Willian: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#5,033

among boys · ↑851 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Willian

How common

1 in 85,404

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1929

84 babies

All-time total

4,092

#2,054 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Willian popularity over time

4,092 babies have been named Willian since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

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	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	81	81	8	–	#603
1890s	–	46	46	5	-43%	#601
1900s	–	29	29	3	-37%	#1,090
1910s	–	194	194	19	+569%	#1,205
1920s	13	597	610	61	+214%	#674
1930s	–	560	560	56	-8%	#687
1940s	–	555	555	56	-1%	#748
1950s	–	415	415	42	-25%	#1,030
1960s	–	416	416	42	0%	#1,055
1970s	5	240	245	25	-41%	#1,336
1980s	–	225	225	23	-8%	#1,807
1990s	–	138	138	14	-39%	#3,452
2000s	–	232	232	23	+68%	#3,315
2010s	–	243	243	24	+5%	#3,043
2020s (to 2025)	–	103	103	17	-29%	#5,033

Where Willian is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	20	0.01	outside top 500
2027	20	0.01	outside top 500
2028	20	0.01	outside top 500
2029	20	0.01	outside top 500
2030	19	0.01	outside top 500

The story of Willian

Willian is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,033 in 2025 with 20 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 4,092 American babies have been named Willian. Its peak came in 1929, when 84 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Willian stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Willian?

The median living Willian is about 54 years old; half are between 24 and 69. An estimated 2,200 people named Willian 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.

Willian year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	20	#5,033
2024	–	–	16	#5,884
2023	–	–	20	#5,055
2022	–	–	17	#5,618
2021	–	–	17	#5,548
2020	–	–	13	#6,602
2019	–	–	18	#5,331
2018	–	–	27	#3,986
2017	–	–	16	#5,773
2016	–	–	22	#4,614
2015	–	–	21	#4,702
2014	–	–	19	#5,055
2013	–	–	23	#4,307
2012	–	–	23	#4,381
2011	–	–	38	#3,043
2010	–	–	36	#3,180
2009	–	–	30	#3,632
2008	–	–	25	#4,136
2007	–	–	22	#4,484
2006	–	–	27	#3,777
2005	–	–	31	#3,315
2004	–	–	20	#4,410
2003	–	–	25	#3,623
2002	–	–	21	#4,039
2001	–	–	17	#4,665
2000	–	–	14	#5,291
1995	–	–	12	#5,115
1990	–	–	18	#3,460
1985	–	–	27	#2,114
1980	–	–	32	#1,807
1975	–	–	20	#2,286
1970	–	–	40	#1,336
1965	–	–	27	#1,512
1960	–	–	38	#1,293
1955	–	–	41	#1,180
1950	–	–	43	#1,085
1945	–	–	68	#748
1940	–	–	60	#809
1935	–	–	53	#871
1930	–	–	74	#743
1925	8	#4,018	60	#870
1920	–	–	44	#1,072
1915	–	–	29	#1,240
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	5	#1,419
1900	–	–	6	#1,303
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	12	#601
1885	–	–	5	#1,094
1880	–	–	6	#906

Famous people named Willian

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Willian José Brazilian footballer (born 1991) Contemporary
2 Willian Arão Brazilian footballer (born 1992) Contemporary
3 Willian Brazilian footballer b. 1986 · Contemporary
4 Willian Popp Brazilian footballer (born 1994) Contemporary
5 Willian Brazilian footballer b. 1983 · Contemporary
6 Willian Magrão Brazilian footballer b. 1987 · Contemporary
7 Willian Rocha Brazilian footballer b. 1989 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Willian?

The median living Willian is about 54 years old. Half of all living Willians are between 24 and 69 years old.

How many people named Willian are alive today?

An estimated 2,200 people named Willian are alive in the United States, based on 4,092 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Willian in 2025?

Willian ranked #5,033 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 20 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Willian?

4,092 babies have been named Willian in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Willian most popular?

Willian peaked in 1929, when 84 newborns received the name.

Is Willian a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Willian rising or falling?

Willian has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Will Willian become more popular?

Willian looks stable. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 19 boys named Willian in 2030, ranking outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Willian?

Well-known people named Willian include Willian José (soccer player), Willian Arão (soccer player), Willian (soccer player).

Names like Willian

Names that sound and feel close to Willian: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Willian with similar names → More names starting with W →