Namesake.

William

Boy Germanic /WIL-yum/ #15064 in 2023

William is a boy name of Germanic origin.

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Meaning of William

Resolute protector. From elements 'wil' (will) and 'helm' (helmet).

Popularity of William

Popularity, 1880–2023
10,659 births in 2023
1880 2023

4,178,408 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023. Used for both boys and girls — see notes below.

Peak year
1947
67,155 babies
First recorded
1880
Earliest SSA data
Recent trend
Falling
Last 5 yrs vs. prior 5

Variants & nicknames

WilhelmGuillaumeLiamWill
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Famous people named William

  • William Shakespeare
  • Prince William

Similar names

Robert
Boy · Germanic
Bright fame; from 'hrod' (fame) and 'beraht' (bright)
Charles
Boy · Germanic
Free man; strong
Emma
Girl · Germanic
Whole, universal
Henry
Boy · Germanic
Ruler of the home; estate ruler
Walter
Boy · Germanic languages
A name, from Walter, from Waltier, from Waltheri (compare, which see for more details), from Waldahari, from Waldaharjaz, Related Compare herald and Harold, in which these elements are reversed
Willie
Unisex
Or a feminine diminutive of William, often in the form
Alice
Girl · Germanic
Noble, of noble kind
Wayne
Boy
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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.