About the name Will
Will is a boy name with Proto-Germanic roots, literally “will + helmet”. It is related to William, which is where the meaning comes from.
It has a unique, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Will ranked #1195 for boys in the US, with 170 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2005. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Will were boys.
Etymology
A diminutive of William, which comes from Proto-Germanic, meaning “will” + “helmet”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Will”, “William”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- #1195
- In 2015
- #835
- Babies in 2025
- 170
Popularity of Will, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Will
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Will on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Will. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Will
Will is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Will
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.