Willis

At a Glance

Meaning

'son of Will' — a patronymic surname built on Will, the short form of William

Origin

English (patronymic surname)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

WIL-isListen

Willis started out as an English patronymic surname, meaning roughly 'son of Will' — one step removed from William itself. You'll sometimes see Willis defined as 'resolute protector,' but that's actually William's meaning; Willis simply points to a father named Will.

Meaning & Origin of Willis

Meaning: 'son of Will' — a patronymic surname built on Will, the short form of William.

Origin: English (patronymic surname).

A common claim: Frequently listed as meaning 'resolute protector,' identical to William. Actually: Willis is a patronymic surname meaning roughly 'son of Will' — the 'resolute protector' meaning belongs to William itself, one generation removed.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Willis

Popularity of Willis

Willis peaked at #86 in 1880 with 166 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had fallen to #2701 with just 49 — Social Security data covers 1880 through 2024.

Names Like Willis

Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.

• Rena
• Ananias
• Prosper
• Orrin
• Geo
• Hyrum

FAQ

What does the name Willis mean?

‘son of Will’ — a patronymic surname built on Will, the short form of William. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Willis?

Willis is pronounced WIL-is (IPA: /ˈwɪlɪs/).

Is Willis a popular name right now?

Willis peaked at #86 in 1880 and is ranked #2701 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Willis Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Willis, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.