William the Conqueror rode out of Normandy in 1066 and imposed this name on English history so thoroughly that it has never really left. From the Germanic willa (will) and helm (helmet) — resolute protector, literally a helmet of will — it has suited four English kings, a playwright, and a prince currently in line for the throne. William has sat in the American top twenty for over a century, one of the steadiest names on record. Two syllables, elastic as an old cardigan. It offers Will, Liam, Billy, Bill, Wim — a whole wardrobe of selves. Classic without nostalgia. Durable in the way good furniture is durable.
Popularity
1880 to today
US SSA data. Lower rank number means more popular. A flat line at the top of the chart means the name did not rank in the top 1000.
Nicknames
- Will
- Liam
- Billy
Middle name ideas
All middle names for WilliamFamous people
- William Shakespeare — English playwright and poet (1564–1616)
- Bill Gates — American businessman, investor, and philanthropist (born 1955)
- Stephen Hawking — British theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author (1942–2018)
- Bertrand Russell — British philosopher and logician (1872–1970)
- William Blake — English poet and artist (1757–1827)
In fiction
No fictional associations tracked.
Sibling name ideas
- James
- Amelia
- Henry
- Charlotte
- Samuel
Similar energy
- James
- Henry
- Samuel
- Michael
- Ethan
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Ethan
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