Name William
William is a masculine name with Germanic, Teutonic, Old High German origins. It is considered a ubiquitous name that has experienced moderate growth in popularity recently.
Meaning of the name William
Origins and Core Meaning
William, a Teutonic name, carries the profound meaning of "protector" or "resolute guardian". Its Germanic roots trace back to the Old High German words "will" (will, desire) and "helm" (helmet, protection), symbolizing determination and steadfast defense. The name embodies the attributes of one who stands firm as a sentinel, safeguarding those under their care.
Detailed Insights on William
Origins
Germanic - Old High German: "will" (will, desire) and "helm" (helmet, protection), meaning "Protector" or "resolute guardian" - It also carries influences from Teutonic.
Symbolic Representation
William finds its symbolism in the powerful imagery of a helmet, a protective gear worn in battle. Just as a helmet safeguards the wearer's head, individuals bearing this name are often seen as protectors, defenders of the vulnerable, and guardians of truth and justice. The name symbolizes courage, loyalty, and an unwavering sense of duty.
Personality Traits
William evokes a sense of unwavering strength and dependability. It carries the weight of responsibility, stability, and an intrinsic desire to shield others from harm. The name emanates an aura of quiet confidence and a steadfast presence, instilling a sense of security and resilience.
Key Personality Traits
Personal Meanings of the Name William
William Overview & Analysis
Gender statistics
William is predominantly a boy's name with a strong masculine identity. Among 4,197,684 people named William, 4,187,458 are male and 10,226 are female resulting in a 99.8% male distribution. This pronounced gender imbalance underscores the name William's strong masculine identity.
Data Explanation
This data is sourced from actual birth records, ensuring that the statistics provided are accurate reflections of real naming trends. The percentage has been rounded up for easier readability, but the underlying figures are grounded in factual data, not estimates. This ensures that the information is both reliable and user-friendly, giving a clear and truthful picture of the name William's gender association.
Popularity
William classified as an ubiquitous name and ranks 5 in the Namedary database. It has experienced moderate growth over the years, and experienced moderate growth recently. The chance of meeting someone named William is nearly 1.2%, or about one in 84+ people.
Based on the latest data from 2021 (43,369), 2022 (46,112), 2023 (44,799), William's year-to-year percentage change in popularity is -6.95%. The name William was most popular in 1947, making up 1.96% of baby names (or about one in 51 babies), and reached its lowest point in 1910 with a usage rate of 0.26%.
Country-Specific Prevalence
| Flag | Country | Rank | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 3 | 1.3% | |
| United States | 5 | 1.2% | |
| Canada | 7 | 0.98% | |
| United Kingdom | 11 | 0.69% | |
| Australia | 17 | 0.75% |
People named William are predominantly found in New Zealand (NZ), where it constitutes 1.3% of the total population.
Data Source
The data in this section was gathered from a variety of sources, including:
- United States: Social Security Administration (https://www.ssa.gov/)
- Canada: Government of Ontario (https://data.ontario.ca/). Alberta’s top baby names (https://www.alberta.ca/). B.C.'s Most Popular Baby Names (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/)
- United Kingdom: Office for National Statistics (https://www.ons.gov.uk/)
- Australia: Government of South Australia (https://data.sa.gov.au/). Government of New South Wales (https://www.nsw.gov.au/). Northern Territory Government (https://nt.gov.au/)
- New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (https://www.data.govt.nz/)
- Supplemental Sources: To enrich our data-driven approach, we supplement our primary sources with information from credible websites, academic publications, and expert opinions. This ensures that we provide a well-rounded perspective on baby names.
To enhance readability, percentages are rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.
Additional Information on William
Pronunciation and Phonetics
- Name
- William
- Pronunciation
- w-IH-l-y-uh-m
- WIHL-yuhm
- WILL-yum
- Will-yahm
- wil-yuhm
- IPA Notation
- wɪˈljʌm
- Syllable
- Stressed:Wil-liam
- Syllable Count:2 Syllables
Chinese Translation of the Name William
Translation of William Boy Name
- Translation
- 威李娅姆
- Pronunce
- (PinYin) : wēi lǐ yà mǔ
- Feng Shui
- 威Earth李Fire娅Earth姆Water
Translation of William Girl Name
- Translation
- 韦丽娅姆
- Pronunce
- (PinYin) : wéi lì yà mǔ
- Feng Shui
- 韦Earth丽Fire娅Earth姆Water
William in Numerology
| W | I | L | L | I | A | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 1 | ||||
| 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):
William's Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 1
- You yearn to become an independent individual, embrace your uniqueness, and think outside the box.
- You are motivated by taking responsibility and initiating projects, standing your ground in competition.
- You dislike being told what to do and have no intention of following the crowd or seeking conquest, victory, or glory.
William's Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 6
- You regularly focus a lot of energy and mind on your family home.
- Avoid the possibility of over-indulging others and maintain a balance between love and family members who genuinely need your care. When you are balanced, you will be happy for a long time.
William's Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 7
- You embody knowledge, courage, honesty, analytical skills, wisdom, and a dedication to truth.
- You possess an interest in the occult and may have some degree of psychic ability.
Famous People Named William
- William Shakespeare: Renowned English playwright, poet, and actor, widely considered the greatest writer in the English language.
- William the Conqueror: The first Norman king of England, who led the Norman Conquest in 1066.
- William Wallace: A Scottish warrior who led the resistance against English rule in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
- William Wordsworth: A leading figure in the Romantic movement of English literature, known for his nature-inspired poetry.
- William Wilberforce: A British politician and philanthropist who played a key role in the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.
User-Submitted Information about William
Treanthin
William Bradley "Brad" Pitt (born 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma) is an American actor.
Giltinesap
William Hurt (born 1950 in Washington, DC) is an American actor.
Isenaa
William "Bill" Paxton (born 1955 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American actor and film director.
Conclusion
In its essence, William epitomizes the virtues of strength, integrity, and unwavering protection. It is a name that carries the weight of history, tradition, and enduring values. Those who bear this name are often admired for their dependability, steadfastness, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding others.
Cwxs
The Middel High German name of William is not correctly spelled; it is Willehalm, also the title of an epic poem by Wolfram von Eschnbach.
Lagiacrusv
William's earlier non-Norman form, Wilhelm, was present in England long before the Norman conquest and can be found in the Anglo-Saxon royal genealogies, so I think it's slightly misleading to say the name was introduced by the Normans.
C_126263344
The name William always reminds me of a serious person, but in a pleasant way! I don't know why but people with this name sound physically attractive in my mind, it's a very charming, classic and beautiful name.
Don't associate William with that character from FnaF because that's rude and I believe there are several characters with that name, imagine a William hearing you make jokes about Afton and calling them "purple guy" or something? I'd be really annoyed.