BoyGerman origin2 syllables
William
Meaning: “Resolute protector”
About the name William
William is a boy name with German roots, meaning “Resolute protector”.
It has a classic feel. In 2025, William ranked #9 for boys in the US, with 10,545 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1947. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named William were boys.
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic, meaning “will” + “helmet”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“William”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- #9
- In 2015
- #5
- Babies in 2025
- 10,545
Popularity of William, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Nicknames for William
Names similar to William
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.