Willy is of German origin and means "will, desire". It is a diminutive of Wilhelm, which itself derives from the Germanic elements 'wil' meaning 'will' or 'desire', and 'helm' meaning 'helmet', 'protection'. The name Willy was popular in the late 19th to mid-20th centuries but has since become less common. It is typically used for boys, though it can also be used as a gender-neutral name. Willy is associated with figures such as Willy Wonka from Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman".
"The name Willy experienced fluctuating popularity throughout the 20th century, with its highest points occurring during the post-WWII era and the early 1940s."