Williman
Diminutive form of William, an English name meaning "resolute protector".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Williman. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Williman today is around 70 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Williman births was 1923 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Williman. 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
- • The typical person named Williman is about 70 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Willimans were born before 1966.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Williman. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1923
5 babies that year
Average age
70
years old
1962 SSA rank
#4,618
Tracked since 1923
Popularity
Williman: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Williman from the 1920s through to the 1960s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 5 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
Williman 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 Williman 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 Williman
The given name Williman has its origins in the ancient Germanic language, tracing back to the 5th century AD. It is a compound name derived from the Old German words "willi," meaning "will" or "desire," and "man," signifying a person or individual. The combination of these two elements suggests the name's meaning as "one with a strong will" or "one with a determined desire."
During the early medieval period, the name Williman gained popularity among the Frankish and Alemannic tribes that inhabited present-day Germany, France, and Switzerland. It was a common name among the nobility and warrior class, reflecting the admiration for strength and determination.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Williman can be found in the Codex Sangallensis, a 9th-century manuscript from the Abbey of Saint Gall in Switzerland. The manuscript mentions a certain Williman, a nobleman and military leader who participated in battles against the Vikings.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Williman. In the 11th century, Williman of Hirsau (c. 1030 - c. 1091) was a renowned Benedictine abbot and theologian who played a significant role in the monastic reform movement of his time. His writings and teachings greatly influenced the religious and intellectual life of medieval Europe.
Another prominent figure was Williman of Châlons (c. 1080 - 1147), a French nobleman and crusader who participated in the Second Crusade. He was known for his bravery and military prowess, as well as his efforts to defend the city of Edessa against Muslim forces.
In the 13th century, Williman of Tournai (c. 1200 - 1284) was a celebrated Flemish architect and sculptor. He is best known for his contribution to the construction of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Tournai, Belgium, which showcased his exceptional skill in Gothic architecture.
During the Renaissance period, Williman von Hirnheim (1490 - 1554) was a German humanist, scholar, and educator. He played a pivotal role in the spread of humanist ideas and the promotion of education in the German states.
In the realm of literature, Williman Pückler-Muskau (1785 - 1871) was a German writer, traveler, and landscape gardener. His famous work, "Tour in England, Ireland, and France," chronicled his travels and provided insightful observations on the landscapes and cultures he encountered.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the name Williman throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods.
People
Williman + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Williman as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Williman: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Williman?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Williman 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Williman a common name?
We classify Williman as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Williman most popular?
The single biggest year for Williman was 1923, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Williman is about 70 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 Williman in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Williman a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Williman 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 Williman still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Williman 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 Williman 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 have the name Williman?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans are named Williman at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.