Wiliam: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	5	1	–	#992
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	43	4	–	#2,040
1920s	102	10	+137%	#2,181
1930s	54	5	-47%	#2,558
1940s	80	8	+48%	#2,144
1950s	98	10	+23%	#2,133
1960s	102	10	+4%	#2,196
1970s	159	16	+56%	#2,049
1980s	198	20	+25%	#1,998
1990s	115	12	-42%	#3,602
2000s	121	12	+5%	#4,894
2010s	125	13	+3%	#5,419
2020s (to 2025)	54	9	-28%	#6,783

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#992

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#2,040

1920s

102

+137%

#2,181

1930s

-47%

#2,558

1940s

+48%

#2,144

1950s

+23%

#2,133

1960s

102

+4%

#2,196

1970s

159

+56%

#2,049

1980s

198

+25%

#1,998

1990s

115

-42%

#3,602

2000s

121

+5%

#4,894

2010s

125

+3%

#5,419

2020s (to 2025)

-28%

#6,783

The story of Wiliam

Wiliam is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,783 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1881, 1,256 American babies have been named Wiliam. Its peak came in 1982, when 28 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Wiliam stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Wiliam?

The median living Wiliam is about 39 years old; half are between 20 and 54. An estimated 1,000 people named Wiliam are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Wiliam year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	13	#6,783
2024	13	#6,809
2023	5	#14,083
2022	9	#8,945
2021	8	#9,650
2020	6	#11,939
2019	13	#6,748
2018	14	#6,323
2017	11	#7,515
2016	11	#7,572
2015	13	#6,658
2014	12	#7,028
2013	10	#8,075
2012	15	#5,980
2011	17	#5,419
2010	9	#8,753
2009	14	#6,413
2008	20	#4,894
2007	13	#6,597
2006	10	#7,970
2005	8	#9,067
2004	8	#8,888
2003	10	#7,221
2002	10	#7,022
2001	14	#5,380
2000	14	#5,290
1995	15	#4,268
1990	17	#3,602
1985	25	#2,225
1980	14	#3,254
1975	19	#2,359
1970	17	#2,291
1965	8	#3,240
1960	13	#2,420
1955	10	#2,758
1950	7	#3,317
1945	5	#3,770
1940	5	#3,924
1935	–	–
1930	9	#3,014
1925	8	#3,399
1920	10	#2,959
1915	6	#3,820
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Wiliam, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Wiliam?

The median living Wiliam is about 39 years old. Half of all living Wiliams are between 20 and 54 years old.

How many people named Wiliam are alive today?

An estimated 1,000 people named Wiliam are alive in the United States, based on 1,256 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Wiliam mean?

Spelling variant of William.

How popular is the name Wiliam in 2025?

Wiliam ranked #6,783 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Wiliam?

1,256 babies have been named Wiliam in the United States since 1881, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Wiliam most popular?

Wiliam peaked in 1982, when 28 newborns received the name.

Is Wiliam a boy or girl name?

Wiliam is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Wiliam rising or falling?

Wiliam has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Wiliam

Wiliam popularity over time

The story of Wiliam

How old are people named Wiliam?

Wiliam year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Wiliam