Declining since 2007, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Guilherme since 1921
Babies named Guilherme per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 6 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 63 |
| 2000s | 257 |
| 2010s | 149 |
| 2020s | 41 |
Meaning & origin
Guilherme is the standard Portuguese form of William, widely used in Portugal and Brazil. In the United States, it first appeared in records in 1921 but remains rare, with a peak rank of 8,910 in 2006. The name has been on a downward trend since 2007, reflecting a shift away from traditional names among Portuguese-American families. Despite its low current usage, Guilherme maintains strong cultural ties to Lusophone communities.
Guilherme derives from the Germanic Wilhelm, composed of wil 'will, desire' and helm 'helmet, protection'. It entered Portuguese through the Old French Guillaume, becoming the standard Portuguese form. The name has been borne by numerous Portuguese and Brazilian historical figures, including kings and saints, and remains common in Portugal and Brazil today.
“Guilherme” around the world
Where Guilherme lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gui
Variants: Guillaume (French), Guglielmo (Italian), Guillermo (Spanish), William (English)
Sibling names for Guilherme
Names that share Guilherme's style, for a brother or sister.
