Willett is an uncommon English given name of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old English words "wil" meaning "will" or "desire," and "hlyt" meaning "battle." Therefore, Willett can be interpreted as "strong-willed in battle" or "one who desires combat."
The name Willett is believed to have been brought to England by the Anglo-Saxons, who invaded Britain in the mid-5th century. It was likely used among the nobility and warrior class during this period due to its martial connotations.
Over time, Willett became less common as a given name, possibly due to its association with warfare. However, it has persisted as a surname, passed down through generations of families. Today, Willett is still occasionally used as a given name but remains quite rare.
One notable figure with the surname Willett is John Willett (1895-1964), an English cricketer who played for several teams in the early 20th century. He was known for his skill as a batsman and made over 13,000 runs throughout his career.
In literature, Willett also appears as a character in H.P. Lovecraft's short story "The Rats in the Walls" (1924). In this tale, Dellwyn Willett is an architect who becomes obsessed with rats after discovering them living behind the walls of his ancestral home.
Overall, while Willett may not be a well-known name today, its origins and history offer insight into the cultural and linguistic influences that shaped English naming traditions.
The statistics provided show the number of babies named Willett born in the United States each year from 1921 to 1928 and again in 1971. Over this period, there were a total of 34 births with the name Willett.
In the early 1920s, the name Willett was given to six babies each year in 1921 and 1922. However, there were no recorded births with this name in 1923 or 1925. The name's popularity then fluctuated, with five births in 1924, seven in 1926, and another five in both 1927 and 1928.
After a gap of nearly forty years, the name Willett appeared again in 1971, with five babies born that year being given this name. This shows that while the popularity of the name may have waned over time, it did not completely disappear from use.
Overall, these statistics provide an interesting snapshot into the usage of the name Willett in the United States over a span of nearly fifty years.