Willard

At a Glance: Name: Willard – Meaning: will/desire + brave, strong — roughly 'bold in will' – Origin: Old English – Gender: used for both boys and girls

---

Willard is an Old English name built from two roots meaning 'will' (desire) and 'brave, strong,' giving it a sense of 'bold in will.' It has a long history in U.S. naming records, tracked by the Social Security Administration from 1880 through 2024. If you want a name with a clear, purposeful meaning rather than a trendy sound, it's worth a look.

Meaning & Origin of Willard

Meaning: Will/desire + brave, strong — roughly 'bold in will'.

Origin: Old English.

Source: Wiktionary.

Popularity of Willard

Willard was far more common a century ago, ranking #58 in 1915 with 2,889 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had dropped to #3034, with only 41 babies named Willard.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Willard Name Art

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

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Amelio
• Wilbur
• Silvio
• Arsen
• Asta
• Wayland

FAQ

What does the name Willard mean?

Will/desire + brave, strong — roughly ‘bold in will’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Willard)

Is Willard a popular name right now?

Willard peaked at #58 in 1915 and is ranked #3034 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name