The story behind Willoughby
From Old English weliġ (“willow”) and Old Norse byr (“settlement”).
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): W IH1 L AH0 B IY0
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Willoughby ranked #17134 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Willoughby
Berkeley
From Old English beorc (“birch”) + leah (“meadow, leigh”). Equivalent to birch + -ley (“lea”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Beverley
From Old English befer (“beaver”) + lēah (“clearing”). Equivalent to Beaver + -ley (“lea”).
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Avery
From Anglo-Norman Averay, Auveray, Alverey, from Latin Alveredus, Aluredus, from Old English Ælfræd, from ælf (“elf”) and ræd (“counsel”). Doublet of Alfred.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- same ending sound
Germany
From Middle English Germanie, from Old English Germanie & Germania, from Latin Germānia (“land of the Germans”), from Germānī, a people living around and east of the Rhine…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- same ending sound
Abhyuday
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit अभ्युदय (abhyudaya).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Courtenay
From Latin Curtenus, from curtus (“short”), via Norman.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Willoughby
Aldith
From Old English eald (“old”) + gūþ (“battle”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aldous
Short form of Old English compound given names beginning with the element eald (“old”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aldwyn
From Old English Ealdwine (literally “old friend”)
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Willoughby
Aethelred
Learned borrowing from Old English Æþelræd, Æðelred, from æþele (“noble”) + rǣd (“counsel, advice”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
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
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Athelred
A male given name from Old English Æþelræd (“noble counsel, well-advised”), variant of Æthelred, Aethelred, or Ethelred.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length