The name Wilhelm is of German origin and means "resolute protection." It is derived from the Germanic elements wil, meaning "will" or "desire," and helm, meaning "helmet" or "protection." The name has been used throughout history in various forms, such as William, Guillaume, Guillermo, and Guglielmo.
The name Wilhelm was popular among royalty and nobility in Europe during the Middle Ages. One of the most notable figures bearing this name is Wilhelm I, also known as William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066 and became its king after defeating Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. Other famous historical figures named Wilhelm include Wilhelm II, the last German Kaiser, and Wilhelm Tell, a legendary Swiss folk hero.
Today, Wilhelm remains a popular choice for parents seeking a strong and distinctive name for their sons. It is often used as a middle name or given name in many countries around the world, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. Some well-known individuals named Wilhelm include Wilhelmina model Wilhelmina Cooper, American actor Wilhelmina Franklyn, and German-American composer Wilhelm Richard Wagner.
In literature and popular culture, Wilhelm has been used as a character's name in various works, such as "Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and "The Magic Mountain" by Thomas Mann. The name also appears in the video game series "The Legend of Zelda," where it is used as the given name for one of the main characters.
In summary, Wilhelm is a strong and distinctive German name with a rich history that has been worn by numerous notable figures throughout time. Its meaning, "resolute protection," adds to its appeal as parents seek meaningful names for their children.
The given statistics show the number of births for the name Wilhelm in the United States each year from 1880 to 2023. Over this period of approximately 143 years, there have been a total of 1776 births.
Analyzing the data, we can observe that the popularity of the name Wilhelm has fluctuated significantly over time. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the number of babies named Wilhelm remained relatively low, with fewer than 10 births per year most years between 1880 and 1930.
However, starting in the 1930s, we see a notable increase in the popularity of the name. Between 1932 and 1945, there were more than 10 births for Wilhelm each year, with peaks of 17 births in 1932 and 16 births in both 1945 and 1967.
The mid-20th century saw a decline in the popularity of the name Wilhelm once again. Between 1950 and 1970, there were fewer than 10 births for Wilhelm each year, with some years having no recorded births at all.
Since the 1970s, however, there has been another resurgence in the popularity of the name Wilhelm. Starting from the mid-1980s, the number of babies named Wilhelm began to rise steadily once again, with peaks of 26 births in both 1970 and 2022.
In recent years, the name Wilhelm has continued to gain traction among parents in the United States. Between 2014 and 2023, there have been more than 20 births for Wilhelm each year, with a peak of 38 births in 2014 and another peak of 33 births in 2022.
Overall, these statistics show that while the name Wilhelm has not always been extremely popular in the United States, it has nonetheless maintained a consistent presence over time. With its recent increase in popularity, it will be interesting to see whether this trend continues in the coming years.