Willie
Every Willie since 1880 — 596,385 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Willie
Willie is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,322 in 2025 with 147 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 596,385 American babies have been named Willie — about 75% boys and 25% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1925, when 11,071 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Willie stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Willie year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | #10,870 | 147 | #1,322 |
| 2024 | 6 | #15,149 | 138 | #1,370 |
| 2023 | 6 | #15,082 | 144 | #1,327 |
| 2022 | 10 | #10,349 | 176 | #1,167 |
| 2021 | — | — | 161 | #1,206 |
| 2020 | — | — | 215 | #995 |
| 2019 | 5 | #17,854 | 208 | #1,008 |
| 2018 | 5 | #17,992 | 228 | #930 |
| 2017 | 5 | #18,307 | 285 | #803 |
| 2016 | — | — | 294 | #797 |
| 2015 | — | — | 307 | #774 |
| 2014 | — | — | 331 | #726 |
| 2013 | 5 | #19,141 | 332 | #708 |
| 2012 | — | — | 369 | #647 |
| 2011 | — | — | 390 | #615 |
| 2010 | — | — | 388 | #628 |
| 2009 | 5 | #20,068 | 401 | #622 |
| 2008 | — | — | 460 | #566 |
| 2007 | 6 | #17,536 | 470 | #548 |
| 2006 | — | — | 507 | #511 |
| 2005 | — | — | 481 | #513 |
| 2004 | — | — | 492 | #498 |
| 2003 | — | — | 559 | #453 |
| 2002 | — | — | 569 | #438 |
| 2001 | — | — | 608 | #413 |
| 2000 | 7 | #13,109 | 610 | #407 |
| 1995 | 11 | #8,063 | 824 | #319 |
| 1990 | 16 | #5,830 | 1,377 | #222 |
| 1985 | 34 | #2,803 | 1,574 | #171 |
| 1980 | 63 | #1,765 | 2,167 | #130 |
| 1975 | 89 | #1,268 | 2,174 | #118 |
| 1970 | 167 | #826 | 3,137 | #103 |
| 1965 | 334 | #522 | 3,807 | #93 |
| 1960 | 590 | #392 | 5,238 | #81 |
| 1955 | 933 | #283 | 6,629 | #54 |
| 1950 | 1,338 | #201 | 7,717 | #42 |
| 1945 | 1,777 | #137 | 7,030 | #31 |
| 1940 | 1,937 | #128 | 6,176 | #35 |
| 1935 | 2,370 | #99 | 6,327 | #30 |
| 1930 | 3,018 | #87 | 6,667 | #29 |
| 1925 | 3,947 | #68 | 7,124 | #27 |
| 1920 | 3,816 | #74 | 6,887 | #29 |
| 1915 | 3,041 | #72 | 5,434 | #30 |
| 1910 | 1,796 | #56 | 2,897 | #11 |
| 1905 | 1,285 | #59 | 1,782 | #13 |
| 1900 | 1,351 | #58 | 2,113 | #14 |
| 1895 | 724 | #78 | 1,071 | #18 |
| 1890 | 578 | #77 | 758 | #23 |
| 1885 | 312 | #95 | 614 | #29 |
| 1880 | 192 | #105 | 476 | #34 |
Famous people named Willie
- Willie Nelson Musician · b. 1933
- Willie Dixon Musician · 1915–1992
- Willie Mays Baseball player · b. 1931
- Willie Colón Singer · b. 1950
- Willie Watson Soccer player · 1920–2004
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Willie in 2025?
Willie ranked #1,322 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 147 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Willie?
596,385 babies have been named Willie in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Willie most popular?
Willie peaked in 1925, when 11,071 newborns received the name.
Is Willie a boy or girl name?
Willie is used for both: about 25% of babies named Willie have been girls and 75% boys.
Is the name Willie rising or falling?
Willie is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Willie?
Well-known people named Willie include Willie Nelson (musician), Willie Dixon (musician), Willie Mays (baseball player).