Name meaning & stats
Willie
Willie means “resolute protector”. 272,006 US babies since 1940, peak 1947. Notable Willies are 3.1× over-represented as American football players.
What it means
“resolute protector”
Well documented
A short form of William.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1947
272,006 US babies were named Willie between 1940 and 2025. Willie is often a nickname, so many people called Willie are registered under a longer name.
Where Willies end up
Not enough notable Willies yet, so this uses the spelling family: Willie, Willy, Wiley, Wylie.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| NFL-style footballer | 3.1× | High · 108 people |
| Basketball player | 2.2× | High · 65 people |
| Footballer | 1.6× | High · 59 people |
| Baseball player | 1.6× | High · 26 people |
Among notable men who are American football players, the Willie family show up 3.1× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Willie has a surprise career: 1.6×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 93% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1947)