William

#11,932 for girls in 2025, 7 births · #9 for boys in 2025, 10,545 births
Given to boys 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
#2
1920 · 50,146 births
Debut · boys
1880
9,532 births
In top 100 · boys
146 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
4,199,696
since 1880

William over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10rank188019001920194019601980200020201972peak #2, 1920boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#11,9327#910,545
2024#10,2719#1010,647
2023#13,4626#1010,673
2022#12,2437#611,356
2021#5,74821#612,170
2020#7,55914#512,676
2019#8,59712#413,658
2018#8,61712#314,646
2017#6,53118#315,046
2016#6,18620#315,810
2015#7,61315#515,950
2014#5,62523#516,851
2013#8,13514#516,669
2012#6,57619#516,917
2011#4,91528#317,362
2010#5,77123#517,072
2009#8,05815#517,937
2008#5,14228#818,403
2007#5,37726#818,898
2006#6,84018#1018,965
2005#4,70428#1119,060
2004#1,734111#820,237
2003#4,10932#1120,000
2002#3,81034#1120,136
2001#4,83424#1020,110
2000#3,45338#1120,669
1999#4,31326#1420,718
1998#3,35336#1420,836
1997#4,12526#1920,020
1996#2,90141#1820,546
1995#2,65046#2020,160
1994#2,70145#1921,492
1993#2,82542#1822,218
1992#2,22060#2023,066
1991#2,29156#1923,860
1990#2,12861#1624,906
1989#1,52394#1524,673
1988#1,003163#1624,126
1987#954169#1524,202
1986#955165#1524,333
1985#874183#1624,606
1984#930158#1624,900
1983#820187#1625,396
1982#865178#1525,604
1981#886171#1524,798
1980#765216#1425,639
1979#823191#1324,676
1978#805186#1324,170
1977#802187#1224,758
1976#736200#1124,428
1975#829163#1025,561
1974#798169#1026,980
1973#801163#928,018
1972#729193#930,510
1971#741201#735,413
1970#726205#738,887
1969#713199#637,607
1968#703192#636,927
1967#720185#637,615
1966#734180#638,237
1965#787157#640,111
1964#836156#744,224
1963#764181#744,453
1962#784175#744,853
1961#729204#748,045
1960#804165#749,361
1959#823155#751,386
1958#793160#654,254
1957#771168#656,852
1956#799154#658,991
1955#913116#659,990
1954#834127#661,426
1953#803131#661,829
1952#736145#663,039
1951#863108#662,781
1950#773125#660,680
1949#748131#461,506
1948#668157#461,972
1947#676154#467,002
1946#629157#460,034
1945#604142#450,218
1944#625136#452,375
1943#581168#455,904
1942#566170#454,890
1941#595140#447,798
1940#562152#444,779
1939#539152#442,071
1938#586138#442,433
1937#514164#440,725
1936#522154#439,398
1935#495163#440,204
1934#482175#440,175
1933#469195#439,049
1932#428235#442,124
1931#417238#443,280
1930#398289#447,271
1929#360337#447,815
1928#368348#449,118
1927#381321#451,476
1926#395303#451,922
1925#402289#353,310
1924#445245#353,506
1923#458225#352,136
1922#499194#351,111
1921#517189#351,862
1920#477204#250,146
1919#514175#243,969
1918#535172#245,291
1917#519165#242,422
1916#575136#240,418
1915#565129#238,563
1914#57497#229,753
1913#52594#223,538
1912#55378#219,626
1911#60550#210,593
1910#69837#38,844
1909#66935#27,913
1908#55745#27,529
1907#70229#26,904
1906#68928#26,566
1905#66428#26,495
1904#70025#26,416
1903#54935#26,311
1902#66725#26,617
1901#53832#25,990
1900#50944#28,579
1899#64423#26,086
1898#48141#27,400
1897#52132#27,198
1896#43444#27,747
1895#45540#27,277
1894#48734#27,274
1893#47332#27,223
1892#40144#27,782
1891#35150#26,763
1890#43534#27,494
1889#35346#27,772
1888#36942#28,705
1887#32244#27,470
1886#36035#28,252
1885#34833#28,044
1884#33734#28,897
1883#27840#28,387
1882#31731#29,298
1881#28630#28,524
1880#28230#29,532
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, William was already there! It came in at #2, and was given to 9,532 baby boys.

Quietest stretch: 1883–1910, when fewer than 8,900 boys a year got the name.

Where William is popular in 1972

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #8 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 39 boysAKMaine: #16 for boys · 132 births · 1 in 55 boysMEVermont: #18 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 63 boysVTNew Hampshire: #14 for boys · 92 births · 1 in 56 boysNHWashington: #15 for boys · 302 births · 1 in 72 boysWAIdaho: #15 for boys · 88 births · 1 in 66 boysIDMontana: #10 for boys · 99 births · 1 in 47 boysMTNorth Dakota: #26 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 96 boysNDMinnesota: #24 for boys · 308 births · 1 in 87 boysMNIllinois: #10 for boys · 1,430 births · 1 in 58 boysILWisconsin: #20 for boys · 444 births · 1 in 68 boysWIMichigan: #12 for boys · 1,232 births · 1 in 56 boysMINew York: #9 for boys · 2,297 births · 1 in 53 boysNYMassachusetts: #11 for boys · 800 births · 1 in 47 boysMARhode Island: #13 for boys · 128 births · 1 in 47 boysRIOregon: #17 for boys · 209 births · 1 in 69 boysORNevada: #9 for boys · 77 births · 1 in 44 boysNVWyoming: #20 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 66 boysWYSouth Dakota: #22 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 82 boysSDIowa: #19 for boys · 260 births · 1 in 74 boysIAIndiana: #9 for boys · 886 births · 1 in 47 boysINOhio: #9 for boys · 1,755 births · 1 in 46 boysOHPennsylvania: #8 for boys · 1,927 births · 1 in 41 boysPANew Jersey: #9 for boys · 1,048 births · 1 in 44 boysNJConnecticut: #9 for boys · 383 births · 1 in 47 boysCTCalifornia: #13 for boys · 1,931 births · 1 in 78 boysCAUtah: #24 for boys · 132 births · 1 in 92 boysUTColorado: #12 for boys · 289 births · 1 in 63 boysCONebraska: #15 for boys · 166 births · 1 in 65 boysNEMissouri: #10 for boys · 710 births · 1 in 49 boysMOKentucky: #7 for boys · 781 births · 1 in 34 boysKYWest Virginia: #8 for boys · 378 births · 1 in 37 boysWVVirginia: #6 for boys · 1,004 births · 1 in 33 boysVAMaryland: #8 for boys · 693 births · 1 in 34 boysMDDelaware: #7 for boys · 137 births · 1 in 27 boysDEArizona: #10 for boys · 287 births · 1 in 59 boysAZNew Mexico: #13 for boys · 122 births · 1 in 72 boysNMKansas: #11 for boys · 241 births · 1 in 60 boysKSArkansas: #6 for boys · 363 births · 1 in 41 boysARTennessee: #5 for boys · 952 births · 1 in 34 boysTNNorth Carolina: #4 for boys · 1,214 births · 1 in 34 boysNCSouth Carolina: #4 for boys · 738 births · 1 in 29 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #8 for boys · 206 births · 1 in 45 boysDCOklahoma: #9 for boys · 362 births · 1 in 52 boysOKLouisiana: #11 for boys · 444 births · 1 in 70 boysLAMississippi: #6 for boys · 519 births · 1 in 38 boysMSAlabama: #5 for boys · 706 births · 1 in 39 boysALGeorgia: #5 for boys · 1,142 births · 1 in 35 boysGAHawaii: #15 for boys · 87 births · 1 in 69 boysHITexas: #9 for boys · 1,476 births · 1 in 72 boysTXFlorida: #7 for boys · 1,282 births · 1 in 39 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. South Carolina#4 · 1 in 29
  2. North Carolina#4 · 1 in 34
  3. Tennessee#5 · 1 in 34
  4. Georgia#5 · 1 in 35
  5. Alabama#5 · 1 in 39

Best ever in a state: #1 in Nevada, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
North Carolina#41,2141 in 34
South Carolina#47381 in 29
Alabama#57061 in 39
Georgia#51,1421 in 35
Tennessee#59521 in 34
Arkansas#63631 in 41
Mississippi#65191 in 38
Virginia#61,0041 in 33
Delaware#71371 in 27
Florida#71,2821 in 39
Kentucky#77811 in 34
Alaska#8691 in 39
District of Columbia#82061 in 45
Maryland#86931 in 34
Pennsylvania#81,9271 in 41
West Virginia#83781 in 37
Connecticut#93831 in 47
Indiana#98861 in 47
Nevada#9771 in 44
New Jersey#91,0481 in 44
New York#92,2971 in 53
Ohio#91,7551 in 46
Oklahoma#93621 in 52
Texas#91,4761 in 72
Arizona#102871 in 59
Illinois#101,4301 in 58
Missouri#107101 in 49
Montana#10991 in 47
Kansas#112411 in 60
Louisiana#114441 in 70
Massachusetts#118001 in 47
Colorado#122891 in 63
Michigan#121,2321 in 56
California#131,9311 in 78
New Mexico#131221 in 72
Rhode Island#131281 in 47
New Hampshire#14921 in 56
Hawaii#15871 in 69
Idaho#15881 in 66
Nebraska#151661 in 65
Washington#153021 in 72
Maine#161321 in 55
Oregon#172091 in 69
Vermont#18471 in 63
Iowa#192601 in 74
Wisconsin#204441 in 68
Wyoming#20331 in 66
South Dakota#22541 in 82
Minnesota#243081 in 87
Utah#241321 in 92
North Dakota#26481 in 96

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about William
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 1 spot since 2024 (#10 → #9)
  • 4 spots since 2020 (#5 → #9)
  • 4 spots since 2015 (#5 → #9)
  • Biggest jump: 5 spots in 1998 (#19 → #14)
  • Biggest drop: 4 spots in 2023 (#6 → #10)
Rise & fade · boys
40 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1920 at #2 (50,146 births)
  • Births halved by 1976, 56 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 10 for 118 yrs
  • Top 10: 118 yrs · run 1880–1975
  • Top 100: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 12
  • Highest: 1 in 12 boys born in 1880 were named William (8.6%)
  • Latest: 1 in 162 boys born in 2025 (0.62%)
  • Its best rank, #2 in 1920, was only 1 in 21 (4.7%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 14.1% of all boys named William (591,228) were born in this decade
  • Comeback: #2 (1920) → #20 (1992) → #3 (2011)
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s84,881#2 (1880)#2
1890s72,244#2 (1892)#2
1900s69,320#2 (1900)#2
1910s303,017#2 (1918)#2
1920s512,402#2 (1920)#3
1930s416,730#4 (1930)#4
1940s556,478#4 (1947)#4
1950s591,228#6 (1952)#6
1960s421,433#6 (1965)#7
1970s283,401#7 (1970)#10
1980s248,277#14 (1980)#15
1990s217,822#14 (1998)#18
2000s194,415#5 (2009)#9
2010s159,981#3 (2011)#4
2020s68,067#5 (2020)#8

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

William in 1972

girls
#729
193 births · 1 in 7,882 girls
boys
#9
30,510 births · 1 in 53 boys

Top girls' names in 1972

  1. #1Jennifer63,600
  2. #2Michelle29,285
  3. #3Lisa27,543
  4. #4Kimberly26,282
  5. #5Amy25,873
  6. #6Angela23,561
  7. #7Melissa22,494
  8. #8Stephanie16,890
  9. #9Heather16,320
  10. #10Nicole15,755
  11. #729William193

Top boys' names in 1972

  1. #1Michael71,393
  2. #2Christopher52,172
  3. #3James47,063
  4. #4David46,322
  5. #5John43,158
  6. #6Robert43,013
  7. #7Jason37,423
  8. #8Brian36,306
  9. #9William30,510
  10. #10Matthew22,928
More about 1972

girls

1,521,244 girls got a published name in 1972; 1 in 7,882 of them was named William, which outranked 92.5% of the 9,666 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside William
  1. #726Aileen195
  2. #727India194
  3. #727Vikki194
  4. #729William193
  5. #730Dee192
  6. #730Johnna192
  7. #730Tamela192
Biggest movers since 1971
Risers
  1. ↑ 5,804Camisha#6,619 → #815
  2. ↑ 3,921Catina#4,123 → #202
  3. ↑ 1,842Cherilyn#2,665 → #823
  4. ↑ 1,789Chasity#2,542 → #753
  5. ↑ 1,694Keena#2,542 → #848
Fallers
  1. ↓ 517Shayla#836 → #1,353
  2. ↓ 428Raina#798 → #1,226
  3. ↓ 280Kendall#742 → #1,022
  4. ↓ 275Alycia#951 → #1,226
  5. ↓ 255Charisse#727 → #982

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,621,608 boys got a published name in 1972; 1 in 53 of them was named William, which outranked 99.8% of the 5,751 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 26.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside William
  1. #6Robert43,013
  2. #7Jason37,423
  3. #8Brian36,306
  4. #9William30,510
  5. #10Matthew22,928
  6. #11Scott22,838
  7. #12Joseph22,454
Biggest movers since 1971
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,755Demond#3,146 → #391
  2. ↑ 1,286Cade#2,279 → #993
  3. ↑ 905Vidal#1,526 → #621
  4. ↑ 855Damond#1,784 → #929
  5. ↑ 849Kareem#1,254 → #405
Fallers
  1. ↓ 413Rich#914 → #1,327
  2. ↓ 401Monroe#947 → #1,348
  3. ↓ 317Laura#990 → #1,307
  4. ↓ 309Von#976 → #1,285
  5. ↓ 309Westley#998 → #1,307

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1972 →