William Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
William is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell William?
William is spelled W-I-L-L-I-A-M. The name has 7 letters.
William at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- William is traditionally understood to mean “resolute protector” or “strong-willed warrior.”
- Origin
- William is commonly associated with Old Germanic roots, deriving from elements meaning “will” or “desire” and “helmet” or “protection.”
- Pronunciation
- WIL-yem · 2 syllables
William Popularity in 2025
Rank#11,932
Recorded Births7
Rank#9
Recorded Births10,545
- Girls usage fell 1,661 places to #11,932 and recorded 2 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 1 place to #9 and recorded 102 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name William Mean?
William is traditionally understood to mean “resolute protector” or “strong-willed warrior.”
Origin: William is commonly associated with Old Germanic roots, deriving from elements meaning “will” or “desire” and “helmet” or “protection.”
How Do You Pronounce William?
PronunciationWIL-yem
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name William?
- History
- The name William has been recorded in various historical texts in medieval Europe, reflecting usage across different cultures primarily within English-speaking regions.
William Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 7 | #11,932 |
| 2025 | Boys | 10,545 | #9 |
| 2024 | Girls | 9 | #10,271 |
| 2024 | Boys | 10,647 | #10 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6 | #13,462 |
| 2023 | Boys | 10,673 | #10 |
| 2022 | Girls | 7 | #12,243 |
| 2022 | Boys | 11,356 | #6 |
| 2021 | Girls | 21 | #5,748 |
| 2021 | Boys | 12,170 | #6 |
| 2020 | Girls | 14 | #7,559 |
| 2020 | Boys | 12,676 | #5 |
| 2019 | Girls | 12 | #8,597 |
| 2019 | Boys | 13,658 | #4 |
| 2018 | Girls | 12 | #8,617 |
| 2018 | Boys | 14,646 | #3 |
| 2017 | Girls | 18 | #6,531 |
| 2017 | Boys | 15,046 | #3 |
| 2016 | Girls | 20 | #6,186 |
| 2016 | Boys | 15,810 | #3 |
| 2015 | Girls | 15 | #7,613 |
| 2015 | Boys | 15,950 | #5 |
| 2014 | Girls | 23 | #5,625 |
| 2014 | Boys | 16,851 | #5 |
When Was William Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1947 · Boys
67,002 recorded births
National rank #4
1952 · Boys
63,039 recorded births
National rank #6
1951 · Boys
62,781 recorded births
National rank #6
1948 · Boys
61,972 recorded births
National rank #4
Where William Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| AL | #2 | 331 |
| MS | #2 | 155 |
| GA | #3 | 475 |
| SC | #3 | 269 |
| MT | #3 | 52 |
| WY | #3 | 24 |
| NC | #4 | 500 |
| DC | #5 | 43 |