Willes
A masculine name of Old German origin meaning "resolute protector".
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Willes. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Willes today is around 94 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Willes births was 1937 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Willes. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Willes is about 94 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Willes' were born before 1942.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Willes. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1937
5 babies that year
Average age
94
years old
1939 SSA rank
#3,959
Tracked since 1937
Popularity
Willes: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Willes by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Willes during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Willes
The name Willes has its origins in the Germanic languages, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old Germanic word "wil," which means "will" or "desire." The name was commonly used in various regions of Europe, including modern-day Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Willes can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval charters and documents from the 9th century. Here, it is mentioned as the name of a landowner in the region of Saxony. Additionally, the name appears in several other historical records from the 10th and 11th centuries, indicating its widespread use during this period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Willes. One of the most famous was Willes de Longchamp, a 12th-century bishop and chancellor of England, who lived from approximately 1130 to 1197. He played a significant role in the reign of King Richard I and was instrumental in maintaining the stability of the kingdom during the monarch's absence during the Crusades.
Another prominent figure was Willes de Braose, a 13th-century English nobleman and Marcher Lord, who lived from around 1175 to 1230. He was involved in several conflicts with King John and was ultimately exiled to France for a period. His life and exploits were documented in various chronicles and historical accounts of the time.
In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook Willes Croft, an English poet and playwright who lived from 1590 to 1629. He is best known for his plays "The Jealous Lovers" and "The Courtly Masque of the Marriage of the Two Friendly Countries," which were performed during the reign of King James I.
Moving forward in time, Willes Littlewood, a renowned British mathematician and academic, was born in 1885 and lived until 1977. He made significant contributions to the fields of analysis and number theory and was a professor at the University of Cambridge for several decades.
Lastly, Willes Hewitt, a British artist and sculptor, lived from 1904 to 1988. He was known for his abstract and modernist works, which often incorporated elements of nature and organic forms. His sculptures can be found in various public spaces and galleries throughout the United Kingdom.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Willes throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human achievement.
People
Willes + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Willes as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Willes: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Willes?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Willes going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Willes a common name?
We classify Willes as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Willes most popular?
The single biggest year for Willes was 1937, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Willes is about 94 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Willes in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Willes a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Willes in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Willes still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Willes in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Willes can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Willes as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.