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Willard as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Willard

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The baby name Willard is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈwɪlərd/ (WIL-erd).

Willard is Germanic in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: /ˈwɪlərd/ (WIL-erd)

What is the meaning of the name Willard ?

The baby name Willard is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈwɪlərd/ (WIL-erd).

Willard is Germanic in Origin.

Willard is a Germanic given name formed from wil “will, desire” and hard “hardy, brave,” conveying “strong‑willed” or “resolute and brave.” It corresponds to medieval forms such as Old High German Willihart and Latinized Willardus, and was known in medieval England, where it also gave rise to the English surname Willard.

As a forename, it enjoyed scattered use in Britain but rose most noticeably in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when sturdy -ard names were fashionable; its popularity peaked between the 1910s and 1930s and it now reads as a vintage choice. Short forms include Will and Willy. Variant spellings and cognates include Williard (English) and Willihard/Willihart (German). Names sharing the -hard element include Bernard, Richard, Leonard, Goddard, and Everard. Notable bearers range from broadcaster Willard Scott to philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine.

Willard has the following similar or variant Names

Celebrity babies named Willard

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Willard Ford Harrison Ford film producer

Willard – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
JM 0 #92 2 3,714
QA 0 #106 1 7,011
BW Boys 0 #136 14 4,685
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
PR Boys 0 #177 2 2,508
AE 0 #187 1 10,220
Sweden Boys 2017 #187 4 1,544
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
NA Boys 0 #247 7 6,830
TW Boys 0 #256 1 7,111
JM Boys 0 #285 9 6,876
Canada Boys 2023 #304 6 2,601
CN Boys 0 #330 2 9,639
DK Boys 0 #332 1 7,401
MY 0 #354 1 12,352
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
BR 0 #360 1 5,969
GH Boys 0 #360 2 8,138
PH Boys 0 #373 11 11,440
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
ZA 0 #468 7 14,421
AR Boys 0 #483 1 7,628
GT Boys 0 #498 2 7,625
PA Boys 0 #503 3 9,305
CR Boys 0 #506 5 10,188
RU Boys 0 #525 2 12,621
PS Boys 0 #538 11 10,655
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
HK Boys 0 #549 9 12,905
BO Boys 0 #622 1 9,244
SG Boys 0 #685 13 17,960
CL Boys 0 #698 3 13,390
QA Boys 0 #742 2 18,093
ZA Boys 0 #774 444 25,619
BR Boys 0 #781 5 12,213
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
United States Boys 2024 #852 41 7,044
PE Boys 0 #863 16 14,506
TN 0 #865 1 13,765
NL Boys 0 #890 62 5,873
CO Boys 0 #974 8 15,656
NG Boys 0 #999 3 16,906
MX Boys 0 #1,033 1 16,355
IN Boys 0 #1,038 2 16,750
MY Boys 0 #1,097 15 25,439
ZA Girls 0 #1,128 14 25,928
AE Boys 0 #1,139 5 22,615
MA 0 #1,199 1 20,986
DZ 0 #1,232 3 20,130
SA Boys 0 #1,598 17 28,008

Willard is popular in 42 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Canada
AE
AR
BN

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People also ask about Willard

Willard is predominantly a boy's name.
Willard is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈwɪlərd/ (WIL-erd).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Will, Willie, Willy, Wilard and Willerd.
Across languages, Willard has these equivalents: William (shares 'will' element; 'resolute protector'), Everard (shares '-hard' element; 'brave/hardy'), Leonard ('lion-strong'), Bernard ('brave as a bear').
Yes — Willard ranked #187 in Sweden in 2017, and appears in official birth registries across 3 countries.
Willard ranks highest in Sweden (#187 in 2017).
Willard's popularity is rising. It moved from #857 in 2014 to #852 in 2024 in United States.
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Willard for their child, including Harrison Ford.