gender neutral
William
resolute protection, strong-willed warrior
About William
William. A name that has crowned kings, inspired poets, and graced the pages of history for nearly a millennium. Consider the weight of legacy this name carries—from William the Conqueror to William Shakespeare, from Prince William to countless leaders, artists, and innovators throughout the centuries. This isn't merely a name; it's a foundation of strength, dignity, and enduring excellence. The name possesses remarkable versatility with nicknames like Will, Bill, Billy, or Liam, adapting to every stage of life from playful childhood through distinguished adulthood. It commands respect in boardrooms while remaining approachable in everyday interactions. William transcends trends and fads, immune to the dating effect that plagues so many contemporary choices. It works seamlessly across cultures, languages, and social contexts. Choose William, and you're not just naming your son—you're connecting him to centuries of greatness while giving him a timeless identity that will serve him throughout his entire life.
Popularity of the Name William
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #2 | ||||
| 1881 | #2 | ||||
| 1882 | #2 | ||||
| 1883 | #2 | ||||
| 1884 | #2 | ||||
| 1885 | #2 | ||||
| 1886 | #2 | ||||
| 1887 | #2 | ||||
| 1888 | #2 | ||||
| 1889 | #2 | ||||
| 1890 | #2 | ||||
| 1891 | #2 | ||||
| 1892 | #2 | ||||
| 1893 | #2 | ||||
| 1894 | #2 | ||||
| 1895 | #2 | ||||
| 1896 | #2 | ||||
| 1897 | #2 | ||||
| 1898 | #2 | ||||
| 1899 | #2 | ||||
| 1900 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1901 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1902 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1903 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1904 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1905 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1906 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1907 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1908 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1909 | #2 | #1 | |||
| 1910 | #3 | #2 | |||
| 1911 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1912 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1913 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1914 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1915 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1916 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1917 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1918 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1919 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1920 | #2 | #2 | |||
| 1921 | #3 | #2 | |||
| 1922 | #3 | #2 | |||
| 1923 | #3 | #2 | |||
| 1924 | #3 | #2 | |||
| 1925 | #3 | #2 | |||
| 1926 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1927 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1928 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1929 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1930 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1931 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1932 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1933 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1934 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1935 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1936 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1937 | #4 | #3 | |||
| 1938 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1939 | #4 | #5 | |||
| 1940 | #4 | #2 | |||
| 1941 | #4 | #5 | |||
| 1942 | #4 | #5 | |||
| 1943 | #4 | #5 | |||
| 1944 | #4 | #5 | |||
| 1945 | #4 | #5 | |||
| 1946 | #4 | #6 | |||
| 1947 | #4 | #7 | |||
| 1948 | #4 | #6 | |||
| 1949 | #4 | #8 | |||
| 1950 | #6 | #8 | |||
| 1951 | #6 | #9 | |||
| 1952 | #6 | #11 | |||
| 1953 | #6 | #12 | |||
| 1954 | #6 | #12 | |||
| 1955 | #6 | #13 | |||
| 1956 | #6 | #14 | |||
| 1957 | #6 | #15 | |||
| 1958 | #6 | #14 | |||
| 1959 | #7 | #16 | |||
| 1960 | #7 | #15 | |||
| 1961 | #7 | #16 | |||
| 1962 | #7 | #19 | |||
| 1963 | #7 | #21 | |||
| 1964 | #7 | #23 | #8 | ||
| 1965 | #6 | #23 | #8 | ||
| 1966 | #6 | #24 | #8 | ||
| 1967 | #6 | #27 | #8 | ||
| 1968 | #6 | #24 | #8 | ||
| 1969 | #6 | #29 | #8 | ||
| 1970 | #7 | #33 | #8 | ||
| 1971 | #7 | #30 | #10 | ||
| 1972 | #9 | #29 | #10 | ||
| 1973 | #9 | #28 | #13 | ||
| 1974 | #10 | #34 | #11 | ||
| 1975 | #10 | #30 | #13 | ||
| 1976 | #11 | #33 | #12 | ||
| 1977 | #12 | #27 | #15 | ||
| 1978 | #13 | #30 | #16 | ||
| 1979 | #13 | #29 | #16 | ||
| 1980 | #14 | #34 | #14 | ||
| 1981 | #15 | #30 | #16 | ||
| 1982 | #15 | #25 | #17 | ||
| 1983 | #16 | #24 | #17 | ||
| 1984 | #16 | #16 | #18 | ||
| 1985 | #16 | #21 | #21 | ||
| 1986 | #15 | #20 | #21 | ||
| 1987 | #15 | #19 | #23 | ||
| 1988 | #16 | #20 | #26 | ||
| 1989 | #15 | #17 | #33 | ||
| 1990 | #16 | #15 | #23 | ||
| 1991 | #19 | #15 | #33 | #30 | |
| 1992 | #20 | #16 | #29 | #30 | |
| 1993 | #18 | #18 | #35 | #25 | |
| 1994 | #19 | #16 | #42 | #21 | |
| 1995 | #20 | #17 | #38 | #19 | |
| 1996 | #18 | #13 | #36 | #14 | |
| 1997 | #19 | #17 | #14 | #39 | #9 |
| 1998 | #14 | #14 | #11 | #57 | #7 |
| 1999 | #14 | #12 | #15 | #50 | #7 |
| 2000 | #11 | #14 | #15 | #46 | #4 |
| 2001 | #10 | #12 | #11 | #52 | #5 |
| 2002 | #11 | #7 | #12 | #49 | #5 |
| 2003 | #11 | #10 | #12 | #55 | #2 |
| 2004 | #8 | #8 | #12 | #54 | #5 |
| 2005 | #11 | #8 | #7 | #51 | #4 |
| 2006 | #10 | #8 | #5 | #51 | #3 |
| 2007 | #8 | #9 | #5 | #45 | #4 |
| 2008 | #8 | #10 | #3 | #47 | #3 |
| 2009 | #5 | #8 | #4 | #55 | #1 |
| 2010 | #5 | #8 | #5 | #47 | #2 |
| 2011 | #3 | #11 | #5 | #47 | #2 |
| 2012 | #5 | #10 | #3 | #51 | #3 |
| 2013 | #5 | #9 | #4 | #43 | #2 |
| 2014 | #5 | #11 | #7 | #50 | #2 |
| 2015 | #5 | #11 | #3 | #51 | #2 |
| 2016 | #3 | #11 | #3 | #50 | #2 |
| 2017 | #3 | #12 | #4 | #54 | #3 |
| 2018 | #3 | #16 | #7 | #48 | #2 |
| 2019 | #4 | #18 | #8 | #52 | #3 |
| 2020 | #5 | #21 | #9 | #53 | #3 |
| 2021 | #6 | #21 | #9 | #59 | #3 |
| 2022 | #6 | #25 | #10 | #69 | #3 |
| 2023 | #10 | #31 | #14 | #71 | #5 |
| 2024 | #10 | #29 | #17 | #69 | #5 |
| 2025 | #9 | #27 | #16 | #77 | #5 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name William
Names Similar to William
Nicknames for William
- Will
- Bill
- Billy
- Liam
Famous People Named William
| William Shakespeare | Renowned playwright and poet |
| William the Conqueror | First Norman King of England |
| William Wallace | Scottish knight and national hero |
| William Wordsworth | Prominent English Romantic poet |
| William Faulkner | American writer and Nobel laureate |
| William Blake | English poet and painter |
| William Penn | Founder of Pennsylvania |
| William Butler Yeats | Irish poet and playwright |
| William Howard Taft | 27th President of the United States |
| William Tell | Swiss folk hero |
| William Wallace Lincoln | Son of Abraham Lincoln |
| William Herschel | Astronomer who discovered Uranus |
| William James | American philosopher and psychologist |
| William Morris | English artist, writer, and textile designer |
| William McKinley | 25th President of the United States |
| William Tecumseh Sherman | Union Army General during the American Civil War |
| William the Silent | Founder of the Dutch Republic |
| William Gibson | Science fiction writer |
| William H. Macy | American actor |
Characters Named William
| William Turner | Pirates of the Caribbean |
| William Adama | Battlestar Galactica |
| William "Will" Graham | Hannibal |
| William "Will" Byers | Stranger Things |
| William "Will" Herondale | The Infernal Devices |
| William "Will" Riker | Star Trek - The Next Generation |
| William "Will" Hunting | Good Will Hunting |
| William "Will" Schuester | Glee |
| William "Billy" Kaplan | Young Avengers |
| William "Bill" Weasley | Harry Potter series |
| William "Will" Traynor | Me Before You |
| William "Will" Parry | His Dark Materials |
| William "Will" Gorski | Sense8 |
| William "Billy" Cranston | Power Rangers |
| William "Will" Stanton | The Dark Is Rising |
| William "Will" Stronghold | Sky High |
| William "Will" Lenz | Sliders |
| William "Billy" Batson | Shazam! |