Given name & surname
Willett
“a resolute and brave man”
Willett is a variant of Willard. One German interpretation is “a resolute and brave man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Willett is a variant of Willard. One German interpretation is “a resolute and brave man.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Willett is a variant of Willard. An origin associated with Willard is Old English.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Willett as a surname has a patronymic derivation linked to Will.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Willett is a variant of Willard. The history of Willard gives this family its wider story. Willard’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Willett through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 161
- 127 boys · 34 girls
- Most popular year
- 1928
- 14 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 2023. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 185 as a first name in 2020; 12,329 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Willett’s family of names
In English usage, Willett as a surname has a patronymic derivation linked to Will. Willett has a related form in Willard. In English usage, Willett as a surname has a related form in Willette.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Willett, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Wilbert
“one who is willful; a bright man”
>99% boys
Willian
“will” · “desire”
>99% boys
Wilton
“from the town on the river”
>99% boys
Willis
“will” · “desire”
>99% boys
Webb
“a weaver”
>99% boys
Willie
“will” · “desire”
98% boys · 2% girls
Wilber
“one who is willful; a bright man”
>99% boys
Wilfred
“one who wishes for peace”
>99% boys