William is a popular male given name of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old German words "wil" meaning "will" or "desire," and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." Thus, the name William means "strong-willed warrior" or "resolute protection."
The name William has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. It was introduced into England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The first recorded use of the name in England is found in the Domesday Book, a great survey of England completed in 1086, where it appears as Willelmus.
The name William gained further popularity during the reign of William the Conqueror (also known as William I), who was the first Norman king of England. He ruled from 1066 until his death in 1087 and is famous for his role in the Battle of Hastings. The name has since been associated with various significant historical figures, including William II Rufus (William the Red), William III of Orange, and William IV of the United Kingdom.
Throughout its history, the name William has had numerous variations and nickname forms. Some popular variants include Willie, Willy, Liam, Bill, Will, and Willis. It has also inspired many place names, such as Williamsburg in Virginia and Williamsport in Pennsylvania.
In recent years, William has remained a popular choice for parents naming their sons, ranking among the top 500 boy's names in the United States according to the Social Security Administration's data from 2019. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its strong, traditional sound and its association with historical figures of importance.
In summary, William is a Germanic given name meaning "strong-willed warrior" or "resolute protection." It has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages and has been associated with numerous significant historical figures throughout its existence. Today, it remains a popular choice for parents naming their sons due to its strong, traditional sound and enduring appeal.
The name William has been consistently popular among parents in the United States since the late 19th century. According to available records, there were five babies named William born in the U.S. in 1881.
From then on, the number of newborns given the name William varied each year, ranging from as few as five births (in 1927 and 1940) to a peak of 28 births in 1982. Interestingly, there were two years (1968 and 1970) when more than 17 babies named William were born.
However, it's worth noting that the popularity of the name William began to decline after the mid-1980s. Between 1985 and 2004, there was an average of around 13 births per year with the name William. This number fluctuated between a low of eight births in 2002 and 2003, and a high of 15 births in 1995.
Since 2004, the popularity of the name William has seen some resurgence, with an average of around 12 births per year between 2004 and 2022. The most recent data available shows that there were nine babies named William born in the U.S. in 2022.
In total, over a period of approximately 141 years (from 1881 to 2023), there have been an estimated 1,229 newborns named William in the United States. These statistics demonstrate that while the name William has not always been the most popular choice for parents, it has remained a consistent and enduring favorite throughout history.