Viliamu
A Polynesian masculine name derived from the English name William.
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Viliamu. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Viliamu today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Viliamu births was 2006 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Viliamu. 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 Viliamu. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2006
6 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2021 SSA rank
#13,938
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Viliamu: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Viliamu from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Viliamu 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 Viliamu during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Viliamu
Viliamu is a name of Polynesian origin, specifically from the Samoan language. It is the Samoan equivalent of the English name William, derived from the Germanic elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "helm" meaning "protection" or "helmet." The name is believed to have emerged in the late 18th or early 19th century, as Samoan communities came into contact with European missionaries and traders.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Viliamu is found in the writings of John Williams, a British missionary who arrived in Samoa in 1830. Williams documented the name as a Samoan adaptation of his own name, which he bestowed upon several Samoan converts to Christianity. This practice of adopting European names was common among early missionary efforts in the Pacific Islands.
In Samoan culture, the name Viliamu has been associated with leadership and strength, reflecting the name's meaning of "resolute protector." Several prominent figures in Samoan history have borne the name, including Viliamu Mauga (1819-1887), a high chief and influential leader during the early years of European contact.
Another notable Viliamu was Viliamu Siale (1855-1920), a Samoan pastor and missionary who played a significant role in spreading Christianity throughout the Samoan archipelago and neighboring islands. His efforts contributed to the establishment of several churches and schools in the region.
In the realm of literature, Viliamu Ioapo (1885-1954) was a celebrated Samoan writer and scholar, known for his contributions to the preservation of Samoan oral traditions and the documentation of cultural practices. His works remain important sources for understanding Samoan history and folklore.
Moving beyond Samoa, the name Viliamu has also been adopted in other Polynesian cultures, such as Tonga and Niue, where it has taken on similar meanings and significance. One notable figure is Viliamu Tungī Mailefihi (1888-1941), a Tongan prince and prominent leader during the early 20th century.
Throughout history, the name Viliamu has carried a sense of cultural exchange and adaptation, reflecting the interactions between Polynesian societies and European influences. While its origins lie in the Germanic roots of the name William, its Samoan form has taken on a distinct identity and legacy within the Pacific Islands.
People
Viliamu + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Viliamu as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Viliamu: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Viliamu?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Viliamu 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 Viliamu a common name?
We classify Viliamu 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 Viliamu most popular?
The single biggest year for Viliamu was 2006, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Viliamu is about 13 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 Viliamu in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Viliamu a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Viliamu 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 Viliamu still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Viliamu 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 Viliamu 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 Americans are named Viliamu?
Want to know how many people share the name Viliamu? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.