How Many People Are Named Will?
Complete statistics for the name Will: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Will is a classic short form of William, rooted in Old Germanic and meaning 'resolute protector'. About 19,927 people named Will are living in the US today, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 16,561 Americans. What's striking is just how old-school this name really is, with an average age of 82 among those who carry it.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 2 is traditionally associated with balance, harmony, and cooperation. People under the number 2 are seen as natural peacemakers who thrive through partnership and quiet diplomacy rather than individual ambition.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 82All 45,851 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1888Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Will Through the Generations
Will peaked way back in 1888, when 712 babies were given the name in a single year. Since then it's been a long, steady decline, and the numbers tell that story clearly. Of the 45,851 people ever named Will in US records, only 19,927 are estimated to be living today, meaning a large portion of everyone who ever had this name has already passed. The age distribution hammers the point home: 29,188 of living Wills are over 60, which is 64% of the total. Compare that to just 9,402 under the age of 30, and you get a name that's essentially fading from the nursery. An average age of 82 makes Will one of the oldest-skewing names you'll find. It's not gone, but it's very much a name belonging to a generation that's passing the torch.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Will
Will or Wil is a given name, often a short form (hypocorism) of William, Wilson, Wilfred, and other names beginning with Wil-.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Will's Old Germanic roots
📄 About the Name Will
How Many People Have the Name Will?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 12,037 people in the United States currently share the name Will. That works out to roughly 1 in every 27,536 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Will a Common or Rare Name?
Will is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Will Mean?
Will means "resolute protector" and comes from Old Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 2.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Will in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Will Most Popular?
The name Will reached peak popularity in 1888, with 712 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Will?
Approximately 12,037 people named Will live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 12,037. That works out to roughly 1 in 27,536 Americans.
Is Will a rare name?
Will is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 27,536 Americans has this name.
What does the name Will mean?
Will means "resolute protector" and comes from Old Germanic origins.
Is Will more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Will are male and 0% are female.
When was Will most popular?
Will peaked in 1888 with 712 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.