William is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #25 in 2025. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Germanic — Resolute protector
⭐
UK Rank 2025
#25
US Rank #9
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About the Name William
William ranked #25 in 2025, down from its peak of #7 in 2006 — still a familiar name, but past its high point. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 30 of the last 30 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
The name carries Germanic roots, where it means "Resolute protector". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
William is a very popular name in the UK — yet a class of 28 is small enough that your child will very likely be the only William on the register.
It ranks similarly in the US at #9, suggesting broad transatlantic appeal.
⭐ Famous People Named William
William, Prince of Wales — William, Prince of Wales, is the heir apparent to the British throne.
William IV — William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837.
William McKinley — William McKinley was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name William
Unlikely. With around 1,456 UK babies named William per year, your child will almost certainly be the only William in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
William has been fairly steady, ranked #25 in 2025 against #20 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #7 in 2006.
The name William has Germanic origins and means "Resolute protector". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named William include: William, Prince of Wales, William Godwin (biography) and William III of England. Short summaries for each appear below.
Yes — William is very popular in the United States, ranked #9 in 2025. It's a transatlantic favourite used widely on both sides of the Atlantic.
1,456
UK babies named William (2025)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.8
In a school of 600
↓ 5 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name William
Almost certainly the only William in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to William
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
William III and II, also known as William of Orange, was the sovereign Prince of Orange from birth, Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel in the Dutch Republic from 1672, and King of England, Ireland, and Scotland from 1689 until his death in 1702.
Sir William Wallace (Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam Uallas, pronounced [ˈɯʎam ˈuəl̪ˠəs̪]; Norman French: William le Waleys; c. 1270 – 23 August 1305) was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence.