Find out how popular the first name William has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of William by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, William is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named William being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 10,598 male babies and 6 female babies born with the name William.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby girls were named William in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name William

The name William has Germanic origins and can be traced back to the Old Germanic language. It is derived from the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." Together, these elements form the compound name "Willahelm" or "Willihelm," which translates to "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior."

The name gained widespread popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. William the Conqueror, the first Norman king of England, played a significant role in popularizing the name throughout the British Isles. His birth name was Guillaume, the French form of William, but it became anglicized after his conquest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Old English poem "Beowulf," where the character Wiglaf is described as a faithful warrior and companion to the hero Beowulf. This early reference suggests that the name was in use among the Anglo-Saxons before the Norman Conquest.

The name William has been borne by numerous notable figures throughout history, including several kings and rulers. Among them are William the Conqueror (c. 1028-1087), the first Norman king of England; William Wallace (c. 1270-1305), the Scottish patriot and leader of the Wars of Scottish Independence; William Shakespeare (1564-1616), the renowned English playwright and poet; William the Silent (1533-1584), the main leader of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule; and William Wilberforce (1759-1833), the English politician and philanthropist who led the movement to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.

These are just a few examples of the many influential individuals who have carried the name William throughout history. The name has endured for centuries and continues to be a popular choice in various cultures and regions around the world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name William was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of William, please contact us.

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