Name meaning & stats
Willi
Willi means “resolute protector”. 133 US babies since 1940, peak 1958. Notable Willis are 1.4× over-represented as journalists.
What it means
“resolute protector”
Spelling of Willie
A short form of William.
Willie around the world
- Вилли · Russian
- ويلي · Arabic
- ウィリー · Japanese
- 威利 · Chinese
- Willi · German
Famous Willies
- Willie Nelson · American country musician (born 1933)
- Willie Mays · American baseball player (1931–2024)
- Willie Garson · American actor (1964–2021)
In US birth records
Peak year: 1958
133 US babies were named Willi between 1940 and 2025.
Willi around the world
- France: 330 babies since 1900, peak 1942
From official birth registries. Sources are listed on About the data.
Where Willis end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.1× | High · 34 people |
| Politician | 1.1× | High · 33 people |
| Professor | 1.2× | Medium · 18 people |
| Journalist | 1.4× | Medium · 13 people |
Among notable men who are journalists, Willis show up 1.4× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people of every nationality born 1940–2005 (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Willis are 1.5× more likely than expected to be painters.
The surprise career: Low confidence · 9 notable people.
Other spellings
1 in 2188 Willies spell it Willi
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1958)