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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

William — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Willett|Williams
GermanicBoy→ Stable

William

WIL-yum · 3 syllables

Share William:
Compare with another name
Boy
#10
→ Stable

Also ranked: Girl #11017 · ↑↑ Surging

#10
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 77
Peak rank
#5 in 2020
5yr change
0 ranks
Birth frequency
29.4 per 10,000 births
Sex split
96% boy · 4% girl

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #10 · Falling since 2020

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Germanic boy names
William

Popularity score: 77  ·  SSA Rank: #10

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
58
Classic name. Score reflects popularity — see Popularity tab for full context.
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
→ Stable
0 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Unknown
— · — · —
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
30
0 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

William scores well on meaning depth but there are tradeoffs — it's a well-known name in this region.

Meaning Depth37% of score
87
Name Trend28% of score
44
Uniqueness20% of score
30
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
GermanicClassicStrongRegal3-syllableRoyalHistoricalProtectiveMale-dominant
Character
protective authorityestablished dignity
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Williams

introspectiveinnovativeinfluentialprincipledimaginative
STRONG
High confidence

William is a Germanic boy name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #10 in the US in 2024.

Trend:→ Stable · 0 ranks
Feasibility:— · — · —
Popularity:#10 · common
William at a Glance
Meaning:Resolute protector. From Germanic elements 'wil' (will, desire) and 'helm' (helmet, protection), suggesting one who desires to protect or defend.
Language root:Old German · Germanic
Peak rank:#5 in 2020
5yr change:0 ranks
Sex usage:96% boy · 4% girl
Notable bearers
William Shakespeare
Playwright and poet
William the Conqueror
King of England
William Faulkner
Novelist
Similar Sound
WillemWilsonWallace◈WalterWyattWilfred
Similar Style
HenryJamesCharlesEdmundFrederickEdward
Works well with
EleanorMargaretCharlotteThomasSamuelBenjaminAnne
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Germanic · #6
→ Stable
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Hebrew · #5
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Charles
Germanic · #51
→ Stable
Edmund
English · #1182
↓ Declining
Frederick
Germanic · #423
↑ Rising
Edward
English · #228
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
William illustration
Name Intelligence
William · Overview
Summary

William is a Germanic boy name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #10 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Classic · Strong · Regal character
William carries a bold, warm, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Already in the top 100
At rank #10, you will likely encounter other Williams. Consider whether that matters to you.
Explore

Add to watchlists or your list with + Save next to the name above.

Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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