Willie
How to say it: WIL-ee · /ˈwɪli/
Diminutive of William; from Old High German Willahelm meaning 'will-helmet' (wil = desire + helm = protection).
Willie was the 1,045th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 147 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1900s, its births are down about 48% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,260 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,045 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 147 |
| Share of births | 1 in 19,053 |
| Peak decade | 1900s |
| Change over 10 years | −48% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,260 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 0 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
At its fullest in the 1900s, Willie has thinned out over a long decline. Sitting far beneath that early high, it will probably slip a bit more.
What goes with it
Round and mellow, said WIL ee, Willie has an easy old fashioned charm. Charlie sits comfortably in the same style.
Nicknames
- Will
Other spellings
Honouring a Willie in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Willie is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, German.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Willie
- Willie Nelson (born 1933)American country musician
- Willie Mays (1931–2024)American baseball player
- Willie Aames (born 1960)American actor, film and television director
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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