Declining since 1985, #9 for boys today.
Popularity of William since 1880
Babies named William per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1947, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, William's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 84,881 |
| 1890s | 72,244 |
| 1900s | 69,320 |
| 1910s | 303,017 |
| 1920s | 512,402 |
| 1930s | 416,730 |
| 1940s | 556,478 |
| 1950s | 591,228 |
| 1960s | 421,433 |
| 1970s | 283,401 |
| 1980s | 248,277 |
| 1990s | 217,822 |
| 2000s | 194,415 |
| 2010s | 159,981 |
| 2020s | 68,067 |
Meaning & origin
No boys' name in the English-speaking world has a longer winning streak. Brought to England by William the Conqueror in 1066, built from Germanic wil ("will") and helm ("helmet, protection"), William spent centuries as the island's most common male name and crossed the Atlantic with the same authority: it sits near the top of the very first Social Security cohort in 1880, technically its peak year, and has never left the American top 20 since.
The 2025 figures show the streak intact: 9th place, about 1 in 162 newborn boys, strongest in Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and Alaska. The digest marks it as falling since 1985, which is true only in the gentlest sense, William's "decline" has been a slow drift within the top 10 while trendier names rise and burn out around it.
Its secret is modularity. Will, Billy, Bill, Willie, and Liam are effectively five different names sharing one birth certificate, and Liam, the Irish short form, has lately outranked William itself at the top of the charts. Shakespeare, Faulkner, and a future king keep the reference points fresh in every generation.
William unites two Germanic elements: wil, "will" or "desire", and helm, "helmet, protection". The Normans brought it to England in the person of William the Conqueror in 1066, and its adoption was so total that within a century it had displaced native Anglo-Saxon names to become the most common male name in England, a position it traded with John for the better part of eight hundred years. Continental cousins include the German Wilhelm, Dutch Willem, French Guillaume, and Spanish Guillermo. In American Social Security data William ranks near the very top in 1880, the first year of records, and has never once left the national top 20, a run of continuity no other boys' name quite matches.
Read more: William on Wikipedia
Where William is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“William” around the world
Where William lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
540
babies in 2024
Ireland
#73
in 2025
New Zealand
#16
in 2025
Quebec
#6
in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#11
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Will, Bill, Billy, Liam, Willie
Famous people named William
- William Shakespeare · English playwright and poet
- William the Conqueror · Norman king who won England at Hastings in 1066
- William, Prince of Wales · heir apparent to the British throne
- William Faulkner · Nobel Prize–winning American novelist
Sibling names for William
Names that share William's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Elizabeth, Charlotte, Katherine, Margaret, Caroline, Eleanor, Emily, Emma, Adelaide, Alexandra, Ann, Anna, Annabelle, Anne, Audrey, Barbara, Carol, Catherine, Clare, Constance, Dawn, Debra, Diana, Diane, Dorothea, Elinor, Elisabeth, Ellen, Georgia, Harriet, Harriett, Helen, Isabelle, Jacqueline, Jane, Janice, Jennie, Joann, Joanne, Judith, Katharine, Kathryn, Lillie, Madeline, Marian, Mary, Maryann, Meghan, Patricia, Robin, Sandra, Susan, Victoria, Virginia, Aileen, Alexandrea, Anabella, Anabelle, Annabel, Annabell, Annalise, Annalyse, Annamae, Bertie, Bettye, Carlyn, Carolynn, Catharine, Cathrine, Cathryn, Christene, Christiana, Dona, Emmaline, Evelin, Evelynn, Fanny, Fredericka, Georganne, Georgeanna, Georgiana, Georgianna, Georgina, Harriette, Henrietta, Janette, Jannette, Jaqueline, Jenette, Joellen, Johanna, Johnette, Julianna, Kathern, Katheryn, Kathrine, Kathryne, Katie, Libby, Lilian, Lilliann, Lillianna, Lizabeth, Louisa, Madeleine, Margarette, Margret, Margurite, Mariann, Marjory, Marry, Maryanne, Marybelle, Maryjane, Nanci, Pamala, Patrica, Rosalee, Rosanne, Roseann, Roseanna, Roseanne, Rosemarie, Ruthann, Sarabeth, Sofie, Suzanna, Tena, Thomasina, Aime, Albertha, Alexsandra, Alise, Ammy, Anabell, Annah, Betsey, Bettyann, Carolyne, Cate, Catheryn, Charolette, Christeen, Christena, Christinia, Dorthea, Elinore, Elizbeth, Elizebeth, Evaline, Female, Frederica, Fredricka, Gaynelle, Georgann, Georganna, Georgiann, Georgianne, Georgine, Irine, Isobel, Jacalyn, Jacki, Jacquelyne, Janett, Jaquelyn, Jeane, Jeannetta, Joannie, Joeann, Johna, Joye, Katharyn, Katherin, Katheryne, Kathyrn, Lady, Leslye, Lilibeth, Lilie, Lillyan, Lilyanne, Lisabeth, Louanna, Louanne, Madaline, Madelaine, Madelin, Madelynne, Madolyn, Manda, Margarett, Margaretta, Margarite, Margrett, Marijo, Marjean, Maryalice, Maryan, Maryanna, Marye, Maryelizabeth, Marykate, Maryland, Marylin, Marylouise, Marylyn, Marylynn, Nicol, Phyliss, Rosalynn, Rosann, Ruthanne, Suzann, Theressa, Thomasine, Thresa, Tomie, Adelynne, Aimie, Alicen, Alleen, Annaclaire, Annagrace, Annalicia, Annamay, Annarose, Annella, Annelle, Babara, Barbaraann, Betti, Bronte, Caraline, Catherin, Catherina, Cathern, Charlott, Charlotta, Cherylann, Cicily, Clarie, Clarinda, Donnalee, Dorothe, Dorothie, Elizabethann, Ellagrace, Ellamarie, Ellanor, Ellenor, Ellinor, Elnore, Emelin, Emilyann, Emmelyn, Emylee, Evah, Evangelyn, Faythe, Fredrica, Georgeanne, Georgian, Graceann, Graceanne, Helaina, Henryetta, Jacklin, Jacqui, Janneth, Jannett, Jeanann, Jenavieve, Jennavieve, Jenne, Jennett, Jenney, Jessye, Joane, Joeanna, Joellyn, Joesphine, Johnelle, Johnita, Joice, Jone, Katerine, Katherene, Kathren, Katty, Liliann, Lilliam, Lillyanne, Lindia, Lisaann, Lisanne, Lizbet, Lizzeth, Louellen, Madalyne, Madalynne, Madeliene, Magaret, Magdalyn, Mame, Margart, Margeret, Margert, Margreat, Margretta, Mariellen, Marrie, Marybel, Marybell, Maryclaire, Maryfrances, Maryhelen, Maryjean, Marykathryn, Meribeth, Nancey, Nancye, Patrecia, Robina, Rosaleigh, Salley, Sallyann, Sallye, Sammye, Saralynn, Sophy, Tamsen, Threasa, Tinamarie, Viviann, Wallis, Wanna, Willamina, Willena, Williemae, Windsor, Yennifer, Abagale, Abbegail, Alizon, Ameilia, Anabeth, Annamary, Annasophia, Annet, Annlee, Barbar, Barbarann, Beverely, Carolynne, Carrolyn, Cathe, Catheryne, Charlett, Charolett, Claramae, Donne, Dorothye, Edla, Elanore, Eliabeth, Elizibeth, Ellamae, Elleanor, Ellenore, Elysabeth, Emilyanne, Emmajane, Emmakate, Emmalene, Emmalise, Emmalyne, Evalynne, Evellyn, Georgana, Georgeann, Hellena, Hendy, Jackline, Jackquelyn, Jacoba, Jacqualine, Jaine, Jannet, Jannetta, Jenie, Jeorgia, Joanette, Johnice, Jolane, Josephene, Josphine, Judithann, Judyann, Juliah, Juliett, Jullie, Junice, Karolynn, Kathlean, Kathrina, Konstance, Lillias, Lillieann, Lorianne, Lylian, Lynnmarie, Madaleine, Madelein, Maie, Maragret, Margaretann, Margareth, Margaretmary, Margarie, Marguarite, Marieann, Marilouise, Marrianne, Maryclare, Maryella, Marykatherine, Maryln, Marymargaret, Marynell, Maryrose, Maryruth, Matha, Morene, Para, Patrici, Patriciaann, Roann, Rosamund, Rosene, Rozalynn, Saraann, Sharlie, Sharlotte, Sophiamarie, Stephenia, Susa, Theresea, Thomasa, Thomasene, Vicktoria, Willean, Willye, Annebelle, Arabela, Lilibet, Loisann, Lucyann, Marialice, Merie, Rosell, Sophiarose, Alexandrya, Alexea, Alisabeth, Amybeth, Anniebell, Barbarajean, Barbee, Beatric, Bellagrace, Bessy, Bettymae, Beverlyann, Cahterine, Carolan, Caterin, Catherene, Charlissa, Charlottie, Christean, Christna, Cythnia, Daisee, Dorethia, Dorothia, Dorothyann, Eleaner, Elener, Eliz, Elizabella, Elizabelle, Elizabth, Elizebath, Ellakate, Ellanore, Elleen, Elliemay, Ellierose, Ellinore, Ellizabeth, Elynore, Emmabelle, Evalin, Eveleigh, Georgean, Gerrianne, Helyne, Isbella, Isobella, Janann, Janeann, Jeananne, Jennavie, Jennet, Jerriann, Jillann, Joeanne, Johnnette, Joyanne, Judianne, Judythe, Kateryn, Kathelene, Katheren, Kathreen, Kathrene, Kathyann, Kitti, Laurali, Laurey, Libbey, Lillan, Lilliane, Lillieanna, Lillion, Lizann, Lizbett, Louiza, Lysbeth, Maddeline, Margeart, Marijean, Marjarie, Marthella, Marybella, Marylynne, Oliviarose, Pattiann, Peggyann, Phillipa, Ritamarie, Rosemae, Rosemaria, Ruthmary, Scarlettrose, Secilia, Suzzane, Victora, Victoriah, Viriginia, Williette, Wilmary, Zoeann
Brothers: Henry, James, Charles, Thomas, Edward, Alexander, Benjamin, John, Robert, Samuel, Donald, Doug, Frederick, Fredrick, George, Jean, Joan, Johnie, Johnnie, Jon, Laurence, Peter, Philip, Phillip, Richard, Stuart, Alexzander, Brigham, Chas, Clovis, Davy, Edmund, Garret, Gean, Geoffrey, German, Hamilton, Harris, Johnson, Little, Rob, Robb, Russel, Stewart, Theadore, Toney, Alexsander, Authur, Benjamen, Douglass, Eliott, General, Geoff, Giles, Godfrey, Green, Henery, Jamieson, Jhon, Joeseph, Johney, Junious, Keneth, Kenith, Lawrance, Matthews, Nicholaus, Nicklaus, Nickolaus, Phillips, Rich, Richmond, Sumner, Young, Alexandar, Andrews, Aurthur, Baldwin, Boy, Bright, Carlous, Carlus, Charls, Donnald, Donold, Edwards, Elija, Fleming, Freddrick, Geoffry, Geroge, Hansford, Harrie, Henrry, Hillery, Johnn, Johnney, Jonn, Kennieth, Kennis, Martyn, Nicholi, Nicholis, Nicholos, Pleas, Purcell, Richrd, Rickard, Roben, Roberts, Robet, Robt, Rodgers, Simpson, Son, Steffon, Thomes, Wilmar, Alecsander, Alexande, Alexxander, Anothony, Aurther, Bond, Chales, Chrles, Dougles, Edwar, Flem, Fredick, Gabreal, Geffrey, Gladstone, Goerge, Jamesmichael, Jenkins, Jeoffrey, Jeorge, Johnpatrick, Josph, Kenneith, Mitcheal, Niccolas, Nickoles, Piers, Press, Ralston, Ricahrd, Richad, Richar, Richerd, Robertson, Robi, Sims, Stephenson, Willson, Alecxander, Anthonyjames, Charlies, Jakeob, Maxamillian, Williom, Aaronjames, Alekxander, Alexanderjames, Andrewjames, Bunyan, Charels, Charlis, Crit, Davidlee, Fredderick, Geoge, Jamas, Johnrobert, Jonh, Jusitn, Lawarence, Lc, Nichlos, Nickalos, Nocholas, Richards, Roberth, Rodert, Sircharles, Thoams, Thomos, Thoms, Thos
Names like William
Names whose popularity has moved with William's over the last 50 years.
