Willard
Boy name · #2718 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Willard? In official American birth records, Willard has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 47 baby boys were named Willard, placing it at #2718 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2722, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 38,298 boys born in 2025 was named Willard.
The 145-year story
Willard first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 88 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1915, when 2,889 boys were named Willard — good for #58 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Willard per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Willard against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Willard in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Willard is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Willard will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Willard is most common
State-level data for Willard is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Willard
Statistically, parents drawn to Willard tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Bernard, Howard, Wilfred, Wilbur, and Weldon.
BernardHowardWilfredWilburWeldonCliffordWillisWoodrow
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Willard | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | #2718 |
| 2024 | 42 | #2958 |
| 2023 | 43 | #2895 |
| 2022 | 41 | #3003 |
| 2021 | 29 | #3740 |
| 2020 | 44 | #2759 |
| 2019 | 46 | #2736 |
| 2018 | 50 | #2546 |
| 2017 | 55 | #2345 |
| 2016 | 47 | #2626 |
| 2015 | 44 | #2722 |
| 2014 | 35 | #3154 |
| 2013 | 31 | #3405 |
| 2012 | 47 | #2594 |
| 2011 | 36 | #3114 |
| 2010 | 49 | #2511 |
| 2009 | 40 | #2946 |
| 2008 | 57 | #2291 |
| 2007 | 48 | #2564 |
| 2006 | 56 | #2248 |
| 2005 | 60 | #2061 |
| 2004 | 63 | #1934 |
| 2003 | 59 | #1962 |
| 2002 | 64 | #1792 |
| 2001 | 61 | #1816 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Willard?
In official American birth records, the name Willard first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 88 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Willard a popular boy name?
Willard ranked #2718 among boys in 2025 with 47 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2722.
When was the name Willard most popular?
Willard peaked in 1915, when 2,889 American boys received the name (ranked #58 that year). Since 1915 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Willard?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 38,298 newborn American boys was named Willard. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.