William
Germanic boy's name meaning “resolute protector”
- Gender
- Boy
- Origin
- Germanic
- Meaning
- resolute protector
- Syllables
- 2
- Letters
- 7
- US rank (2023)
- #10
- Born in 2023
- 10,653
Meaning & origin
William comes from the Germanic Willahelm, from will ('will, desire') and helm ('protection') — 'resolute protection'. William the Conqueror brought it to England in 1066.
Popularity
In the latest US data, William ranked #10 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
In 2023, 10,653 US boys were given the name William.
US popularity rank over time
Peaked at #3 in 2018
“Unranked” means William was outside the US top 1,000 that year.
See more boy names starting with W.
Nicknames
Will, Bill, Liam, Billy
William: frequently asked questions
What does the name William mean?
William is a Germanic name meaning "resolute protector". William comes from the Germanic Willahelm, from will ('will, desire') and helm ('protection') — 'resolute protection'. William the Conqueror brought it to England in 1066.
Where does the name William come from?
William is of Germanic origin. William comes from the Germanic Willahelm, from will ('will, desire') and helm ('protection') — 'resolute protection'. William the Conqueror brought it to England in 1066.
Is William a boy or a girl name?
William is most commonly a boy's name.
How many babies are named William?
In 2023, 10,653 US boys were given the name William.
Is William a popular name, and is it rising or falling?
In the latest US data, William ranked #10 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
What are common nicknames for William?
Common nicknames for William include Will, Bill, Liam, Billy.