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
- Peak · boys
- 1920 · 50,146 births
- Debut · boys
- 9,532 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 146 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 4,199,696since 1880
William over time
boys
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
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
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #11,932 | 7 | #9 | 10,545 |
| 2024 | #10,271 | 9 | #10 | 10,647 |
| 2023 | #13,462 | 6 | #10 | 10,673 |
| 2022 | #12,243 | 7 | #6 | 11,356 |
| 2021 | #5,748 | 21 | #6 | 12,170 |
| 2020 | #7,559 | 14 | #5 | 12,676 |
| 2019 | #8,597 | 12 | #4 | 13,658 |
| 2018 | #8,617 | 12 | #3 | 14,646 |
| 2017 | #6,531 | 18 | #3 | 15,046 |
| 2016 | #6,186 | 20 | #3 | 15,810 |
| 2015 | #7,613 | 15 | #5 | 15,950 |
| 2014 | #5,625 | 23 | #5 | 16,851 |
| 2013 | #8,135 | 14 | #5 | 16,669 |
| 2012 | #6,576 | 19 | #5 | 16,917 |
| 2011 | #4,915 | 28 | #3 | 17,362 |
| 2010 | #5,771 | 23 | #5 | 17,072 |
| 2009 | #8,058 | 15 | #5 | 17,937 |
| 2008 | #5,142 | 28 | #8 | 18,403 |
| 2007 | #5,377 | 26 | #8 | 18,898 |
| 2006 | #6,840 | 18 | #10 | 18,965 |
| 2005 | #4,704 | 28 | #11 | 19,060 |
| 2004 | #1,734 | 111 | #8 | 20,237 |
| 2003 | #4,109 | 32 | #11 | 20,000 |
| 2002 | #3,810 | 34 | #11 | 20,136 |
| 2001 | #4,834 | 24 | #10 | 20,110 |
| 2000 | #3,453 | 38 | #11 | 20,669 |
| 1999 | #4,313 | 26 | #14 | 20,718 |
| 1998 | #3,353 | 36 | #14 | 20,836 |
| 1997 | #4,125 | 26 | #19 | 20,020 |
| 1996 | #2,901 | 41 | #18 | 20,546 |
| 1995 | #2,650 | 46 | #20 | 20,160 |
| 1994 | #2,701 | 45 | #19 | 21,492 |
| 1993 | #2,825 | 42 | #18 | 22,218 |
| 1992 | #2,220 | 60 | #20 | 23,066 |
| 1991 | #2,291 | 56 | #19 | 23,860 |
| 1990 | #2,128 | 61 | #16 | 24,906 |
| 1989 | #1,523 | 94 | #15 | 24,673 |
| 1988 | #1,003 | 163 | #16 | 24,126 |
| 1987 | #954 | 169 | #15 | 24,202 |
| 1986 | #955 | 165 | #15 | 24,333 |
| 1985 | #874 | 183 | #16 | 24,606 |
| 1984 | #930 | 158 | #16 | 24,900 |
| 1983 | #820 | 187 | #16 | 25,396 |
| 1982 | #865 | 178 | #15 | 25,604 |
| 1981 | #886 | 171 | #15 | 24,798 |
| 1980 | #765 | 216 | #14 | 25,639 |
| 1979 | #823 | 191 | #13 | 24,676 |
| 1978 | #805 | 186 | #13 | 24,170 |
| 1977 | #802 | 187 | #12 | 24,758 |
| 1976 | #736 | 200 | #11 | 24,428 |
| 1975 | #829 | 163 | #10 | 25,561 |
| 1974 | #798 | 169 | #10 | 26,980 |
| 1973 | #801 | 163 | #9 | 28,018 |
| 1972 | #729 | 193 | #9 | 30,510 |
| 1971 | #741 | 201 | #7 | 35,413 |
| 1970 | #726 | 205 | #7 | 38,887 |
| 1969 | #713 | 199 | #6 | 37,607 |
| 1968 | #703 | 192 | #6 | 36,927 |
| 1967 | #720 | 185 | #6 | 37,615 |
| 1966 | #734 | 180 | #6 | 38,237 |
| 1965 | #787 | 157 | #6 | 40,111 |
| 1964 | #836 | 156 | #7 | 44,224 |
| 1963 | #764 | 181 | #7 | 44,453 |
| 1962 | #784 | 175 | #7 | 44,853 |
| 1961 | #729 | 204 | #7 | 48,045 |
| 1960 | #804 | 165 | #7 | 49,361 |
| 1959 | #823 | 155 | #7 | 51,386 |
| 1958 | #793 | 160 | #6 | 54,254 |
| 1957 | #771 | 168 | #6 | 56,852 |
| 1956 | #799 | 154 | #6 | 58,991 |
| 1955 | #913 | 116 | #6 | 59,990 |
| 1954 | #834 | 127 | #6 | 61,426 |
| 1953 | #803 | 131 | #6 | 61,829 |
| 1952 | #736 | 145 | #6 | 63,039 |
| 1951 | #863 | 108 | #6 | 62,781 |
| 1950 | #773 | 125 | #6 | 60,680 |
| 1949 | #748 | 131 | #4 | 61,506 |
| 1948 | #668 | 157 | #4 | 61,972 |
| 1947 | #676 | 154 | #4 | 67,002 |
| 1946 | #629 | 157 | #4 | 60,034 |
| 1945 | #604 | 142 | #4 | 50,218 |
| 1944 | #625 | 136 | #4 | 52,375 |
| 1943 | #581 | 168 | #4 | 55,904 |
| 1942 | #566 | 170 | #4 | 54,890 |
| 1941 | #595 | 140 | #4 | 47,798 |
| 1940 | #562 | 152 | #4 | 44,779 |
| 1939 | #539 | 152 | #4 | 42,071 |
| 1938 | #586 | 138 | #4 | 42,433 |
| 1937 | #514 | 164 | #4 | 40,725 |
| 1936 | #522 | 154 | #4 | 39,398 |
| 1935 | #495 | 163 | #4 | 40,204 |
| 1934 | #482 | 175 | #4 | 40,175 |
| 1933 | #469 | 195 | #4 | 39,049 |
| 1932 | #428 | 235 | #4 | 42,124 |
| 1931 | #417 | 238 | #4 | 43,280 |
| 1930 | #398 | 289 | #4 | 47,271 |
| 1929 | #360 | 337 | #4 | 47,815 |
| 1928 | #368 | 348 | #4 | 49,118 |
| 1927 | #381 | 321 | #4 | 51,476 |
| 1926 | #395 | 303 | #4 | 51,922 |
| 1925 | #402 | 289 | #3 | 53,310 |
| 1924 | #445 | 245 | #3 | 53,506 |
| 1923 | #458 | 225 | #3 | 52,136 |
| 1922 | #499 | 194 | #3 | 51,111 |
| 1921 | #517 | 189 | #3 | 51,862 |
| 1920 | #477 | 204 | #2 | 50,146 |
| 1919 | #514 | 175 | #2 | 43,969 |
| 1918 | #535 | 172 | #2 | 45,291 |
| 1917 | #519 | 165 | #2 | 42,422 |
| 1916 | #575 | 136 | #2 | 40,418 |
| 1915 | #565 | 129 | #2 | 38,563 |
| 1914 | #574 | 97 | #2 | 29,753 |
| 1913 | #525 | 94 | #2 | 23,538 |
| 1912 | #553 | 78 | #2 | 19,626 |
| 1911 | #605 | 50 | #2 | 10,593 |
| 1910 | #698 | 37 | #3 | 8,844 |
| 1909 | #669 | 35 | #2 | 7,913 |
| 1908 | #557 | 45 | #2 | 7,529 |
| 1907 | #702 | 29 | #2 | 6,904 |
| 1906 | #689 | 28 | #2 | 6,566 |
| 1905 | #664 | 28 | #2 | 6,495 |
| 1904 | #700 | 25 | #2 | 6,416 |
| 1903 | #549 | 35 | #2 | 6,311 |
| 1902 | #667 | 25 | #2 | 6,617 |
| 1901 | #538 | 32 | #2 | 5,990 |
| 1900 | #509 | 44 | #2 | 8,579 |
| 1899 | #644 | 23 | #2 | 6,086 |
| 1898 | #481 | 41 | #2 | 7,400 |
| 1897 | #521 | 32 | #2 | 7,198 |
| 1896 | #434 | 44 | #2 | 7,747 |
| 1895 | #455 | 40 | #2 | 7,277 |
| 1894 | #487 | 34 | #2 | 7,274 |
| 1893 | #473 | 32 | #2 | 7,223 |
| 1892 | #401 | 44 | #2 | 7,782 |
| 1891 | #351 | 50 | #2 | 6,763 |
| 1890 | #435 | 34 | #2 | 7,494 |
| 1889 | #353 | 46 | #2 | 7,772 |
| 1888 | #369 | 42 | #2 | 8,705 |
| 1887 | #322 | 44 | #2 | 7,470 |
| 1886 | #360 | 35 | #2 | 8,252 |
| 1885 | #348 | 33 | #2 | 8,044 |
| 1884 | #337 | 34 | #2 | 8,897 |
| 1883 | #278 | 40 | #2 | 8,387 |
| 1882 | #317 | 31 | #2 | 9,298 |
| 1881 | #286 | 30 | #2 | 8,524 |
| 1880 | #282 | 30 | #2 | 9,532 |
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 1986
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · boys
- Mississippi#4 · 1 in 38
- South Carolina#4 · 1 in 38
- Alabama#6 · 1 in 39
- Georgia#6 · 1 in 42
- North Carolina#7 · 1 in 40
Best ever in a state: #1 in Nevada, 1910.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #4 | 455 | 1 in 38 |
| South Carolina | #4 | 560 | 1 in 38 |
| Alabama | #6 | 642 | 1 in 39 |
| Georgia | #6 | 1,052 | 1 in 42 |
| Kentucky | #7 | 568 | 1 in 42 |
| North Carolina | #7 | 1,014 | 1 in 40 |
| Tennessee | #7 | 771 | 1 in 41 |
| District of Columbia | #8 | 148 | 1 in 51 |
| Virginia | #8 | 869 | 1 in 44 |
| Arkansas | #9 | 295 | 1 in 50 |
| Alaska | #10 | 97 | 1 in 49 |
| Maryland | #10 | 548 | 1 in 52 |
| Florida | #11 | 1,248 | 1 in 61 |
| Connecticut | #12 | 342 | 1 in 59 |
| West Virginia | #12 | 216 | 1 in 51 |
| Delaware | #13 | 92 | 1 in 43 |
| Oklahoma | #13 | 351 | 1 in 64 |
| Pennsylvania | #15 | 1,201 | 1 in 64 |
| Texas | #15 | 1,740 | 1 in 84 |
| Louisiana | #16 | 421 | 1 in 81 |
| New Jersey | #16 | 766 | 1 in 62 |
| Massachusetts | #17 | 588 | 1 in 67 |
| Missouri | #17 | 491 | 1 in 73 |
| New York | #17 | 1,633 | 1 in 75 |
| Hawaii | #18 | 78 | 1 in 83 |
| Indiana | #18 | 481 | 1 in 77 |
| Montana | #18 | 71 | 1 in 74 |
| Vermont | #18 | 58 | 1 in 57 |
| Wyoming | #18 | 49 | 1 in 64 |
| New Hampshire | #19 | 108 | 1 in 65 |
| Ohio | #20 | 1,023 | 1 in 74 |
| Rhode Island | #21 | 88 | 1 in 68 |
| Kansas | #22 | 205 | 1 in 84 |
| Colorado | #23 | 287 | 1 in 88 |
| Michigan | #24 | 732 | 1 in 87 |
| Arizona | #25 | 262 | 1 in 104 |
| Illinois | #25 | 908 | 1 in 88 |
| California | #26 | 2,018 | 1 in 113 |
| Nevada | #26 | 69 | 1 in 93 |
| Maine | #28 | 88 | 1 in 82 |
| New Mexico | #28 | 101 | 1 in 112 |
| Oregon | #29 | 181 | 1 in 99 |
| Idaho | #30 | 67 | 1 in 102 |
| Washington | #30 | 309 | 1 in 101 |
| Wisconsin | #31 | 300 | 1 in 111 |
| Iowa | #34 | 173 | 1 in 105 |
| South Dakota | #36 | 43 | 1 in 111 |
| Utah | #37 | 130 | 1 in 127 |
| Minnesota | #38 | 267 | 1 in 115 |
| Nebraska | #38 | 94 | 1 in 118 |
| North Dakota | #44 | 35 | 1 in 147 |
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
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 84,881 | #2 (1880) | #2 |
| 1890s | 72,244 | #2 (1892) | #2 |
| 1900s | 69,320 | #2 (1900) | #2 |
| 1910s | 303,017 | #2 (1918) | #2 |
| 1920s | 512,402 | #2 (1920) | #3 |
| 1930s | 416,730 | #4 (1930) | #4 |
| 1940s | 556,478 | #4 (1947) | #4 |
| 1950s | 591,228 | #6 (1952) | #6 |
| 1960s | 421,433 | #6 (1965) | #7 |
| 1970s | 283,401 | #7 (1970) | #10 |
| 1980s | 248,277 | #14 (1980) | #15 |
| 1990s | 217,822 | #14 (1998) | #18 |
| 2000s | 194,415 | #5 (2009) | #9 |
| 2010s | 159,981 | #3 (2011) | #4 |
| 2020s | 68,067 | #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 1986
girls
#955
165 births · 1 in 10,397 girls
boys
#15
24,333 births · 1 in 76 boys
Top girls' names in 1986
Top boys' names in 1986
More about 1986
girls
1,715,547 girls got a published name in 1986; 1 in 10,397 of them was named William, which outranked 92.6% of the 12,836 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
boys
1,841,515 boys got a published name in 1986; 1 in 76 of them was named William, which outranked 99.8% of the 7,830 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside William
Biggest movers since 1985
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.