William
William is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Resolute protector or desire for protection.
Origin and history
William is a classic Germanic name derived from Wilhelm, meaning 'resolute protector' or 'will-helmet'. Historically and overwhelmingly given to males, it has also seen minor, rare usage for females in the United States over the past century. Given as a female name, it is traditionally an family surname usage or a crossover choice.
Popularity in the United States
16,029 babies in the United States have been named William since 1880. It ranks #1218 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2037.
States where it is most popular
- NY (11.4 %)
- PA (9.4 %)
- OH (6.5 %)
- CA (6.3 %)
- IL (6.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 365 |
| 1890-1900 | 374 |
| 1900-1910 | 326 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,133 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,655 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,903 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,507 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,389 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,794 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,858 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,684 |
| 1990-2000 | 439 |
| 2000-2010 | 354 |
| 2010-2019 | 184 |
| 2020-2029 | 64 |
Nicknames
Willa, Billie, Will, Willie
Fun facts
- Combines the Germanic elements 'wil' (will, desire) and 'helm' (helmet, protection).
- Though predominantly masculine, over 16,000 U.S. females have received the official given name William since 1880.