Wallis is an English origin name derived from the Old English word 'wall', meaning 'foreign' or 'stranger'. It was originally used as a surname but has gained popularity as a given name for girls in recent years, partly due to its association with Wallis Simpson, the American socialite who married King Edward VIII. In Wales, it is sometimes used as a shortened form of Wallace, meaning 'Welsh' or 'stranger from Wales'. The name is often associated with strength and independence.