Origin:German
Popularity:8
Meaning:will helmet, protection
Honestly, there hasn’t been a year when William wasn’t popular. From William Shakespeare to William the Conqueror (the Duke of Normandy, who brought the name to England in 1066), no fewer than four American presidents and three British kings have had the name William. The eldest son of Princess Diana, Prince William (the Duke of Cambridge) is a royal who grows more popular with each year.
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Famous Williams

Wondering who else shares this name? Check out these well known people who made this baby name famous.
  • William
    Princess Diana and Prince Charles
  • William Blake
    Artist, Poet
  • William Butler Yeats
    Poet
  • William Faulkner
    Author
  • William Golding
    Novelist
  • William Hanna
    Cartoonist
  • William Henry Harrison
    United States President
  • William H. Macy
    Actor
  • William Holden
    Actor
  • William Howard Taft
    United States President
  • William Hurt
    Actor
  • William McKinley
    United States President
  • William Moseley
    Actor
  • William S. Burroughs
    Artist
  • William Shakespeare
    Playwright
  • William Wordsworth
    Poet

Popularity Trend Chart

Roll over the visual for detailed rankings by year.

Source: Social Security Administration

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