UK boy's name
Willliam
A masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "resolute protection".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Willliam is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Willliam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3134, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2001 to 2001. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Willliam is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Willliam. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Willliam ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 3 boys were registered as Willliam.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Willliam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3134
2001
Births in 2001
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Willliam mean?
The name William has its origins in the Germanic language, derived from the elements "wil" meaning desire or will, and "helm" meaning helmet or protection. It first appeared in the 8th century as "Willihelm" and later evolved into the modern English form of "William."
In the early Middle Ages, the name gained popularity across Europe, particularly in England and France. One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.
The name William has a strong historical significance, with several notable figures bearing this name. One of the most famous was William the Conqueror (c. 1028-1087), the Norman ruler who invaded and conquered England in 1066, becoming the first Norman king of England.
Another influential William was William Shakespeare (1564-1616), the renowned English playwright and poet, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. His works, including plays like "Hamlet," "Macbeth," and "Romeo and Juliet," have had a profound impact on literature and the English language.
In the realm of science, William Herschel (1738-1822) was a German-born British astronomer who discovered the planet Uranus and made significant contributions to the study of the universe.
The name also has religious connections, with William of Ockham (c. 1285-1347), an English Franciscan friar and philosopher, known for his principle of parsimony, often referred to as "Occam's Razor."
During the American Revolution, William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was a British politician and philanthropist who played a crucial role in the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals named William throughout history, showcasing the name's enduring popularity and significance across various fields and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Willliam by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Willliam was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3134 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Willliam
- William 117,982
- Wilfred 5,302
- Will 3,185
- Warren 2,787
- Wyatt 2,604
- Wesley 2,513
- Woody 1,951
- Walter 1,918
- Wiktor 1,354
- Wayne 979
- Wilbur 975
- Wade 902
FAQ
Willliam: questions and answers
How popular is the name Willliam in the UK right now?
In 2001, Willliam was ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Willliam most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 3 babies registered as Willliam in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Willliam?
A masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "resolute protection".
How many people are called Willliam in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Willliam across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.