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

Popularity of Willian by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 19 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Willian.

The history of the first name Willian

The name Willian has its origins in the Germanic language, deriving from the Old German name Willahelm or Willelm. It is a compound name, with the first part "Will" meaning "will" or "desire," and the second part "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." The name essentially translates to "resolute protector" or "determined guardian."

In the early Middle Ages, the name spread across various regions of Europe, including France, where it evolved into the French form Guillaume, and England, where it became William. The Norman conquest of England in 1066 played a significant role in popularizing the name William throughout the British Isles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Willian can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, including Willelm and Willelmus.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Willian, often in its more common forms, such as William or Guillaume. One of the most famous was William the Conqueror (c. 1028-1087), the first Norman king of England, who led the conquest of England in 1066 and established the Norman Dynasty.

Another significant figure was William Shakespeare (1564-1616), the renowned English playwright and poet, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and one of the most influential figures in world literature.

In the realm of science, William Herschel (1738-1822) was a German-born British astronomer who discovered the planet Uranus and made numerous contributions to the field of astronomy.

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was an English politician and philanthropist who played a pivotal role in the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850), an English Romantic poet, is considered one of the most important literary figures of the 19th century and a key figure in the Romantic movement.

While the name Willian is not as common as its variants, such as William or Guillaume, it has maintained a presence throughout history, carrying the essence of determination, protection, and resilience.

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 Willian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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