Princewilliam
A masculine name of French origin meaning "resolute protector".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Princewilliam. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Princewilliam today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Princewilliam births was 2017 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Princewilliam. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Princewilliam. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2017
6 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2017 SSA rank
#11,851
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Princewilliam: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Princewilliam by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Princewilliam during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Princewilliam
Princewilliam is a unique and intriguing name that combines elements from both English and French language traditions. The first part of the name, "Prince," is derived from the Old French word "prince," which itself originated from the Latin "princeps," meaning "first" or "chief." This suggests a historical association with nobility, leadership, and authority.
The second part of the name, "William," has its roots in the Germanic languages. It is derived from the Old German name "Willihelm," which is a compound of the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire," and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." Together, these elements symbolize a strong-willed and protected individual.
In ancient times, the name Princewilliam does not appear to have been widely used or recorded in any significant historical texts or religious scriptures. However, its components have been present in various forms throughout history.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with a similar name was Prince William of Normandy, also known as William the Conqueror (c. 1028 - 1087). He was the first Norman king of England, having successfully invaded and conquered the Anglo-Saxon kingdom in 1066. His reign marked a significant turning point in English history and the establishment of Norman rule.
Another notable figure was Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721 - 1765), known as the "Butcher Cumberland" for his brutal suppression of the Jacobite Rising in Scotland. He was the third son of King George II and commanded the British forces at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
In more recent history, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (born 1982), is the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. He is second in line to the British throne after his father and has served in the British Armed Forces.
Another individual with a similar name was William, Prince of Orange (1533 - 1584), also known as William the Silent. He was a renowned leader of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule and is considered a founding father of the Netherlands.
Finally, Prince William Henry (1662 - 1690), famously known as William III of England, was a Dutch prince who became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He co-reigned with his wife, Mary II, and their joint rule marked a significant shift towards constitutional monarchy in Britain.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have shared elements of the name Princewilliam, each with their own unique stories and legacies.
People
Princewilliam + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Princewilliam as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Princewilliam: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Princewilliam?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Princewilliam going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Princewilliam a common name?
We classify Princewilliam as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Princewilliam most popular?
The single biggest year for Princewilliam was 2017, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Princewilliam is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Princewilliam in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Princewilliam a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Princewilliam in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Princewilliam still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Princewilliam in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Princewilliam can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Princewilliam?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.