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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Willoughby — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Willoh|Willow
English◈ Unisex · 52% boy · 48% girl↑↑ Surging

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Willoughby

◈

WIL-uh-bee · 3 syllables

Share Willoughby:
Compare with another name
Girl
#10194
↑↑ Surging
Girl
#10194
Popularity score: 7
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#10194 in 2024
5yr
+3184 ranks
Velocity
+3184
Birth frequency
2.8 per 1,000,000 births
Boy
#14119
Popularity score: 4
→ Stable
Peak
#10727 in 2021
5yr
—
Velocity
—
Birth frequency
1.4 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20212024

Rank #14119 · Falling since 2021

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
English boy names
Willoughby

Popularity score: 4  ·  SSA Rank: #14119

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #10194 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
English girl names
Willoughby

Popularity score: 7  ·  SSA Rank: #10194

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
84
Higher than 84% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑↑ Surging
+3184 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
55
30 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Score Breakdown

Meaning60

Meaningful origin with moderate historical depth.

Trend88

Strong upward momentum in recent years.

Uniqueness55

Moderately common — familiar but not ubiquitous.

Feasibility50

Some practical considerations — review details below.

Name DNA
EnglishPlace-nameNatureUnisex3-syllableVintageSettlement-originBotanical
Character
dignified reservesteadfast loyaltyquiet determinationrefined courtesyunderstated confidence
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Willoughbys

artisticcreativeillustrativeskilledcultured
STRONG
High confidence

Willoughby is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #10194 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑↑ Surging · +3184 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#14119 · very rare
Willoughby at a Glance
Meaning:From a place name meaning 'willow settlement' or 'dwelling by the willow trees,' derived from Old English willow + by (settlement).
Language root:Old English · Germanic
Peak rank:#10194 in 2024
5yr change:+3184 ranks
Sex usage:Girl #10194 · Boy #14119
Notable bearers
Willoughby Kipling
British artist and illustrator
Willoughby Britton
Neuroscientist and meditation researcher
Similar Sound
WaterbyWelbyWhitley◈Whitney◈Willow◈
Similar Style
Finley◈Hadley◈Paisley◈Ripley◈Teasley
Works Well With
Sibling names that pair naturally with Willoughby
Wren◈Hazel◈FelixStellan◈Rowan◈Beckett◈IvyOliver
You Might Also Like
Finley◈
Scottish · #365
↓ Declining
Hadley◈
English · #114
→ Stable
Paisley◈
Scottish · #61
→ Stable
Ripley◈
English · #1250
↓ Declining
Evelyn
English · #8
→ Stable
Harper
English · #12
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Name Intelligence
Willoughby · Overview
Summary

Willoughby is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #10194 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Willoughby scores 84/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Surging fast
Rank has moved 3184 positions in the last year. Exceptional momentum.
Works for any sex
52% boy · 48% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Nature · Vintage character
Willoughby carries a grounded, cool quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Rising very fast
Willoughby is surging. If the trend continues, it may become significantly more common within 2-3 years.
Domain taken
willoughby.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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