William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German name Wilhelm, which consists of two elements: "wil" meaning "will" or "desire", and "helm" meaning "helmet". Thus, William can be translated to mean "resolute protection" or "strong-willed warrior".
The name William has a rich history, tracing back to the Middle Ages in Europe. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was William 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.
Throughout history, many notable figures have borne the name William, including William Shakespeare, the renowned English playwright and poet; William Blake, an influential English poet, painter, and printmaker; and William Wordsworth, a major English Romantic poet. Additionally, several monarchs across Europe have carried this name, such as William III of England and William IV of the United Kingdom.
In contemporary times, William remains a popular choice for a boy's name in many countries around the world. It has been consistently ranked among the top 500 baby names in the United States since the early 20th century, according to data from the Social Security Administration.
Overall, the name William offers a strong and historic legacy with its Germanic origins and enduring popularity throughout history. Its meaning of "resolute protection" or "strong-willed warrior" further contributes to its appeal for parents seeking a timeless and meaningful name for their sons.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe the trends of the name William in the United States from 1880 to 2022.
The years with the highest number of births named William were between 1914 and 1929, with a peak of 67 births in 1929. This period coincides with a time when the name William was particularly popular, as it was among the top ten names for boys during this decade.
However, after the 1930s, the popularity of the name William began to decline steadily. Between 1946 and 1971, there were fewer than 50 births named William each year. The lowest point was reached in 1971 with only 17 births.
Despite this decline, the name William has remained relatively consistent in popularity over the past few decades. Since 2000, the number of births named William has ranged between 5 and 12 per year, with no clear upward or downward trend.
In total, there have been 3506 births named William in the United States from 1880 to 2022. This demonstrates that while the name William may not be as popular today as it once was, it still remains a classic and enduring choice for parents.