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Home › Baby Names Directory › Willoughby

Willoughby

♂ Boy

Pronounced WIL-uh-bee /ˈwɪl.ə.bi/High

Meaning: From English place-names in Lincolnshire and elsewhere, combining Old English 'willow' with the Old Norse by, 'farm; settlement' — 'the willow farm'. Literary readers know John Willoughby, the charming cad of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, which we note honestly.Medium

In 30 seconds: A grand English surname name: Willoughby means 'the farm by the willows' (said 'WIL-uh-bee').
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Origin MediumEnglish, Norse
MeaningFrom English place-names in Lincolnshire and elsewhere, combining Old English 'willow' with the Old Norse by, 'farm; settlement' — 'the willow farm'. Literary readers know John Willoughby, the charming cad of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, which we note honestly.
U.S. rank (2024)#14119 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1923
Total births (all-time)≈ 223

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192319152024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Willoughby comes from English place-names — several villages in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire bear it — built from 'willow' plus the Old Norse by, 'farm; settlement', a legacy of Viking-era naming in the Danelaw. It became an aristocratic surname and, more recently, a first name with a genial, storybook air. Readers of Jane Austen will know John Willoughby of Sense and Sensibility, whose charm hides a careless heart — a literary association worth noting honestly (said 'WIL-uh-bee').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records. Rare, surname-style, and characterful.

Did you know? Willoughby joins 'willow' to the Old Norse by, 'farm' — a reminder of the Viking settlement of eastern England. Austen readers will also recall John Willoughby of Sense and Sensibility, a charmer who behaves badly; we note that honestly (said 'WIL-uh-bee').
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Willoughby — English place-name; willow + Old Norse by; Austen's John Willoughby noted

Variations

WilloubyWillowbyWilloby

Nicknames

WillBee

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Willoughby…

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Willoughby mean?

Willoughby is an English place-name meaning 'the farm by the willows', from 'willow' and the Old Norse by, 'farm'.

How do you pronounce Willoughby?

It's said WIL-uh-bee /ˈwɪl.ə.bi/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Willoughby a boy or girl name?

Willoughby is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Willoughby?

Willoughby is a very rare name for boys in the U.S.

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