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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Will/desire + brave, strong — roughly 'bold in will'
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- WIL-erd
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.
How to Pronounce Willard
WIL-erdIPA /ˈwɪlərd/
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.
Names Like Willard
These names have followed a similar path to Willard in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Willard mean?
Will/desire + brave, strong — roughly ‘bold in will’. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Willard?
Willard is pronounced WIL-erd (IPA: /ˈwɪlərd/).
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.)
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.
📊 How popular is Willard? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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