The story behind Willard
From Old English wil (“will”) + heard (“brave, strong”).
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈwɪləɹd/
Popularity
Willard ranked #2760 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Willard
Wilfred
The name of two early Anglo-Saxon saints Wilfriþ, from Old English wil (“will”) + friþ (“peace”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Wilfrid
Inherited from Old English Wilfriþ, from wil (“will”) + friþ (“peace”). Borrowed from German, equivalent of English Wilfred. Doublet of Wilfried.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Winfred
From Old English Wynnfriþ, from wynn (“joy”) + friþ (“peace”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alfred
From Middle English Alfred, from Old English Ælfrǣd, from ælf (“elf”) + rǣd (“counsel”). Doublet of Alfredo and Avery. Equivalent to elf + rede. The modern pronunciation with…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ashland
From Old English æsċ (“ash tree”) + land, equivalent to ash + land. Many places in the United States are named after Ashland, Henry Clay's estate.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Clifford
From Old English clif (“cliff”) + ford (“ford”), a dweller at the ford by the steep bank.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Willard
Aethelred
Learned borrowing from Old English Æþelræd, Æðelred, from æþele (“noble”) + rǣd (“counsel, advice”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Alfredas
Learned borrowing from Latin Alfredus, from Old English Ælfræd, from Proto-West Germanic *Albirād. Compare Latvian Alfrēds.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Alwena
Borrowed from Old English Æþelwine.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Willard
Alden
From Old English Ealdwine, from eald (“old”) + wine (“friend”); equivalent to Alwin. In some cases a variant of Haldane.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aldith
From Old English eald (“old”) + gūþ (“battle”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aldous
Short form of Old English compound given names beginning with the element eald (“old”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length