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    The first name Willard

    A boy’s name from English meaning “will”, “brave”, “strong”.

    Pronounced /ˈwɪləɹd/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Willard means “will”, “brave”, “strong” in English.

    From Old English wil (“will”) + heard (“brave, strong”).

    More names that mean brave, strong.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Willard last appeared in the official list in 2008, given to 3 boys.

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    3
    babies named Willard, 1996–2025
    #4,432
    rank in 2008
    2008
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Willard with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Willard at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 47 boys born in the United States were named Willard, the 2,760th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1915, when 2,889 were.

    01,5003,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    78,542
    babies named Willard since 1880
    #2,760
    rank in 2025
    1915
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Willard

    34 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Josiah Willard Gibbs
      American scientist (1839–1903)
    • Willard Libby
      American physical chemist, 1908–1980
    • Willard Boyle
      Canadian physicist and inventor (1924–2011)
    • Willard Van Orman Quine
      American philosopher and logician (1900–2000)
    • Willard Scott
      American weather presenter and television personality (1934–2021)
    • Willard Metcalf
      American artist (1858-1925)
    • Willard Louis
      American actor (1882–1926)
    • Willard Schmidt
      Basketball player (1910–1965)
    • Willard Rice
      American ice hockey player (1895-1967)
    • Willard Robertson
      American actor and writer (1886-1948)
    • W. Willard Wirtz
      American Secretary of Labor (1912-2010)
    • Willard Parker
      American actor (1912-1996)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Willard mean?
    Willard means “will”, “brave”, “strong” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Willard?
    From Old English wil (“will”) + heard (“brave, strong”).
    How popular is the name Willard?
    In 2008, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Willard, ranking 4,432nd.
    Is Willard a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 78,542 US babies named Willard since 1880 were boys.
    When was Willard most popular?
    1915 in the United States, when 2,889 babies were named Willard, its highest rank at 58th.
    How do you pronounce Willard?
    Willard is /ˈwɪləɹd/, 2 syllables.
    Is Willard also a surname?
    Yes. Willard is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.