Will is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Will means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Will across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Will has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Will is a boy name of Germanic origin meaning “resolute protector”. A short form of William.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 46,610 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 3,175 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 152 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 211 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 399 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Will per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1888 (712/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2004 (211/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2017 (33/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2016 (20/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2009 (12/yr).
Will has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1888, when it ranked #94 nationally (given to 712 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1880s.
Willie · Willow · Ila · Wiley · Willa
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