Willy
Boy name · #3960 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Willy? In official American birth records, Willy has been tracked continuously since 1884, giving it 141 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 27 baby boys were named Willy, placing it at #3960 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3591, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 66,667 boys born in 2025 was named Willy.
The 141-year story
Willy first appears in the Social Security records in 1884, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1993, when 69 boys were named Willy — good for #1400 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Willy per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Willy against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Willy in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Willy is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Willy will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Willy is most common
State-level data for Willy 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 Willy
Statistically, parents drawn to Willy tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Eloy, Fermin, Reilly, Mckay, and Korey.
EloyFerminReillyMckayKoreyTyronJoseyKy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Willy | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #3949 |
| 2024 | 24 | #4321 |
| 2023 | 20 | #4886 |
| 2022 | 31 | #3617 |
| 2021 | 30 | #3651 |
| 2020 | 38 | #3025 |
| 2019 | 29 | #3716 |
| 2018 | 39 | #2994 |
| 2017 | 26 | #3993 |
| 2016 | 26 | #3990 |
| 2015 | 30 | #3591 |
| 2014 | 35 | #3154 |
| 2013 | 38 | #2955 |
| 2012 | 44 | #2716 |
| 2011 | 41 | #2852 |
| 2010 | 44 | #2730 |
| 2009 | 48 | #2585 |
| 2008 | 60 | #2207 |
| 2007 | 49 | #2533 |
| 2006 | 47 | #2542 |
| 2005 | 48 | #2399 |
| 2004 | 48 | #2344 |
| 2003 | 49 | #2206 |
| 2002 | 46 | #2249 |
| 2001 | 59 | #1871 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Willy?
In official American birth records, the name Willy first appeared in 1884 (over 141 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Willy a popular boy name?
Willy ranked #3960 among boys in 2025 with 27 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3591.
When was the name Willy most popular?
Willy peaked in 1993, when 69 American boys received the name (ranked #1400 that year). Since 1993 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Willy?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 66,667 newborn American boys was named Willy. 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.