Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Willson

Willson

♂ Boy

Pronounced WIL-sun /ˈwɪl.sən/High

Meaning: A double-L spelling of the English surname Wilson, 'son of Will' — Will being the short form of William, 'resolute protector'. Both spellings are genuine surnames of long standing.Medium

In 30 seconds: A classic surname name: Willson means 'son of Will' — that is, of William (said 'WIL-sun').
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningA double-L spelling of the English surname Wilson, 'son of Will' — Will being the short form of William, 'resolute protector'. Both spellings are genuine surnames of long standing.
U.S. rank (2024)#14120 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)≈ 360

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202019142024

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

Willson is a documented variant of the English surname Wilson, 'son of Will', where Will is the medieval pet form of William. Patronymic surnames of this kind — Johnson, Robinson, Jackson — are among the commonest in English, and their move into first-name use has been one of the strong currents of modern American naming. The double L is old rather than invented (said 'WIL-sun').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records, far behind Wilson. Rare, surname-style, and familiar.

Did you know? Willson is simply Wilson with a second L — a real, long-standing spelling of the surname meaning 'son of Will'. Will is short for William, so the meaning reaches all the way back to 'resolute protector' (said 'WIL-sun').
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Willson — variant of surname Wilson, 'son of Will'

Variations

WilsonWilsenWillsen

Nicknames

WillSon

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Willson…

Wilson— the standard spelling of the same surname
Jackson— a like patronymic surname name
Emerson— the same -son shape
William— the classic name at the root

Explore names like Willson

By themeenglishclassicsurnamepatronymic
By meaningProtector

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Willson mean?

Willson is a spelling of the English surname Wilson, 'son of Will' — Will being short for William.

How do you pronounce Willson?

It's said WIL-sun /ˈwɪl.sən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Willson a boy or girl name?

Willson is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Willson?

Willson is a rare spelling in the U.S., far behind Wilson.

💬 Ask Nia