Willard
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Willard
Unfortunate identification with an army of rats in the movie of the same name.
Willard for girls
Willard as a feminine name is quite uncommon, as it is traditionally a masculine name of Germanic origin. It derives from the Old German elements 'wil' meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'strong,' thus translating to 'brave resolver' or 'strong-willed.' While primarily used for boys since medieval times, some traditionally male names have crossed gender boundaries in modern naming practices. As a female name, Willard offers a bold, distinctive choice that breaks convention. The masculine Willard peaked in popularity in the early 20th century in the United States but has since declined. For girls, it remains extremely rare, potentially chosen for family connections or for parents seeking a strong, unconventional name for their daughter.
Pronounced WIL-ard.
As of October 2026, Willard ranked #2760 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #58 in 1915.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #3,227 | 35 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #2,761 | 44 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #2,660 | 47 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #2,385 | 55 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #2,577 | 50 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #2,761 | 46 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #2,803 | 44 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #3,904 | 28 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #3,050 | 41 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #2,942 | 43 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #3,034 | 41 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #2,760 | 47 | — | 0 |
Similar names
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Willard on lists
Famous Willards
- Willard Carroll "Will" Smith Jr.Boy
American actor and rapper
- (Willard) Mitt RomneyBoy
American politician and businessman
- Willard RichardsBoy
American Mormon leader
- (Josiah) Willard GibbsBoy
American chemist
- Willard Frank LibbyBoy
American physical chemist
- Willard Sterling BoyleBoy
Canadian physicist and Nobel Prize winner
- Willard Herman ScottBoy
Jr., American actor
- Willard Van Orman QuineBoy
American philosopher and logician
- Willard HuyckBoy
American screenwriter and director
- John Willard "Bill" MarriottBoy
founder of Marriott International
- Willard Ford (b. 1969)Boy
son of actor Harrison Ford
- Willard Carroll "Trey" Smith III (b. 1992)Boy
son of actor Will Smith
Willard in pop culture
- Willard StilesBoy
main character in 1971 film "Willard"
- Willard "Will" WrightBoy
character in "Umineko: When They Cry" video game series
- Willard WhyteBoy
character in James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever"
- Willard DeckerBoy
character in the Star Trek series
- Willard YoungBoy
character in movie "Paradise"
- Willard HewittBoy
character in movie "Footloose"
Variations & nicknames
- WillerdBoy