Willie Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Willie is a diminutive of the name William, which has roots in Old German. The name signifies a 'resolute protector' and has evolved through various historical forms. It is often regarded as a warm and friendly name, with no specific biblical relevance. The name gained popularity in the 19th century and continues to be a beloved choice in modern times.
The name Willie is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Willie has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Willie' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 25th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 32nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 58th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 114th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 211th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 482nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 928th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 65th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 114th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 269th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 903rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3211th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 21209th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 16778th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Willie' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Willie"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɪli/
Origin
Old German
Etymology
Willie is a diminutive form of William, which is derived from the Old High German name 'Willahelm', composed of the elements 'willa' meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'helm' meaning 'helmet' or 'protection'.
Meaning
resolute protector
Language Evolution
Willahelm, Willelmus, William, Willie
Historical Usage
Willie became popular as a diminutive of William in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries. It has been commonly used in various cultures as a standalone name.
Variants & Derivatives
William, Will, Bill, Billy
Modern Popularity & Image
Willie is often perceived as a friendly and approachable name, associated with warmth and companionship. It has maintained a level of popularity over the years, particularly in the United States.
Famous People
Willie Nelson, Willie Mays, Willie Stargell, Willie Wonka (fictional character)
Explore More Willie Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Willie"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Willie"
"Willie" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 25th of 7545 | 117,883 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 32nd of 6773 | 117,098 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 58th of 7552 | 120,592 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 114th of 10718 | 43,036 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 211th of 16616 | 22,258 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 482nd of 24088 | 8,483 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 928th of 23106 | 2,815 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 65th of 9107 | 70,237 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 114th of 9204 | 42,164 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 269th of 12526 | 19,003 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 903rd of 19264 | 2,340 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3211th of 27321 | 511 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 21209th of 35406 | 34 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 16778th of 30306 | 42 |
Regional Popularity of "Willie" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
13.56% 192nd/1416 |
23.93% 330th/1379 |
0.30% 7th/2366 |
15.15% 173rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
11.77% 182nd/1546 |
14.59% 227th/1556 |
0.38% 9th/2353 |
12.48% 193rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
6.65% 148th/2227 |
6.38% 155th/2430 |
0.77% 22nd/2853 |
7.50% 208th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
5.21% 153rd/2937 |
5.11% 178th/3483 |
1.79% 63rd/3518 |
6.75% 273rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
5.59% 206th/3685 |
6.41% 287th/4475 |
2.41% 125th/5194 |
6.11% 386th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
10.52% 482nd/4582 |
12.66% 654th/5164 |
4.83% 353rd/7313 |
11.83% 883rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
22.11% 881st/3984 |
33.03% 1482nd/4487 |
10.77% 735th/6822 |
22.04% 1383rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Willie" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
25.64% 363rd/1416 |
46.05% 635th/1379 |
0.72% 17th/2366 |
47.72% 545th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
27.55% 426th/1546 |
36.38% 566th/1556 |
1.40% 33rd/2353 |
40.40% 625th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
26.67% 594th/2227 |
34.44% 837th/2430 |
4.84% 138th/2853 |
30.16% 837th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
47.43% 1393rd/2937 |
59.78% 2082nd/3483 |
15.38% 541st/3518 |
49.16% 1988th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 3685th/3685 |
- |
44.11% 2291st/5194 |
83.08% 5248th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Willie"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Willie" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.