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Why parents love William- Shakespeare — the greatest writer who ever lived — was a William.
- Prince William keeps it royally current.
- William the Conqueror changed England forever.
- Nicknames span every style: Will, Bill, Billy, Liam, Wills.
- It has NEVER left the US top 20 — 140+ years of continuous popularity.
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The vibe of William
conquerorprotectorShakespeareroyalresoluteeternalversatiletop-20
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Origin & history of William
Germanic wil (will/desire) + helm (helmet/protection)
→ Norman French Willaume
→ English William
1
English / Germanic roots
William comes from the Germanic elements wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection). William the Conqueror (c. 1028–1087) invaded England in 1066 and made William the dominant name in the English-speaking world — a position it has never fully relinquished. William Shakespeare (1564–1616) is universally regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. Four kings of England have been William. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, keeps the name in the royal spotlight. William has been in the US top 20 for every single year since records began in 1880.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: The Normans brought it to England in 1066; William the Conqueror made it the most important name in English history.
3
Today
William remains a beloved choice, ranking #6 in the US. 4,205,026 babies have been named William since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Britannica, SSA data
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How popular is William?
1947
peak year
William hit its high-water mark in 1947, when it became one of the country's most popular names — #4 nationally, with 67,001 babies given the name that year. It had been quietly building for over half a century before that, first appearing in records in 1880. Since the peak, the name has settled at in the top ten (#6) today, averaging about 13,266 new babies per year. William has been declining in recent years. Across all years on record, approximately 4,205,026 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
67,001
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #4)
(ranked #4)
13,266
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
132,660
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
4,205,026
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of William7
Life path number
The Seeker
Wisdom, introspection and spiritual depth.
William's Life Path 9 is the humanitarian's number — the resolute protector of all. People named William tend to be dependable, authoritative, and driven by a deep sense of duty. They protect through strength of will.
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Resolute protector✦
Duty-bound strength◈
Never out of fashion◎
Dependable authority♡
Will of ironW5
I9
L3
L3
I9
A1
M4
Sum: 34 → Life path 7
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Personality of William🔍
Curious & intellectual
Always questioning, always learning.
📚
Deep thinker
Surface answers don't satisfy them.
🌙
Reflective & wise
They think before they speak. Worth hearing.
🦋
Beautifully independent
Their solitude is purposeful, not lonely.
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Famous people named WilliamClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
W
William Shakespeare
The greatest writer in the English language.
W
William the Conqueror
Changed England and the English language in 1066.
W
Prince William
Duke of Cambridge, future king.
W
William Faulkner
Nobel Prize-winning novelist.
W
Will Smith
Actor and cultural icon.
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If you like William, you may also love♩
Names that combine with WilliamSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of William.
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Middle names for WilliamThe right middle name turns William into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for William? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for William →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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