Wilhelm Boy

Popularity: #899 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationVIL-helm / /ˈvɪl.hɛlm/

German; Dutch

Meaning

German: resolute protector; Dutch: will helmet

Historical & Cultural Background

Wilhelm is a traditional German name that has been used since the Middle Ages. It gained popularity through various historical figures, including German kings and emperors. The name has also been influential in Dutch culture, where it is similarly used. Variants of the name have appeared in various forms across Europe, reflecting its widespread appeal.

Trend Summary

Wilhelm has seen a decline in popularity in the United States, remaining relatively uncommon.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Will
  • Willy
  • Guillaume

International Variants

  • Guillermo (Spanish)
  • Guglielmo (Italian)
  • Wilhelmus (Dutch)

Famous people named Wilhelm

Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling from 1888 until his abdication in 1918.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was a German physicist who discovered X-rays, earning the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.

Wilhelm Grimm was a German philologist and folklorist, known for co-authoring 'Grimm's Fairy Tales' with his brother Jacob.

Wilhelm von Humboldt was a German philosopher, linguist, and government functionary, known for his work in education and language theory.

Fictional characters named Wilhelm

Wilhelm is a character in the video game 'Bloodborne', serving as a mentor figure to the player.

Wilhelm is a character in the 'Borderlands' video game series, known for his role as a powerful antagonist.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Wilhelm was first seen in the United States in 1880. Wilhelm has ranked as high as #1357 nationally, which occurred in 2014, and has been most popular in New York, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. In the past 5 years the name Wilhelm has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Wilhelm (1982)

StateBirthsShare
CA 6
100%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
18806
18826
18836
18846
18857
18875
18895
18905
18925
18946
18955
18995
19005
19028
19046
19066
19085
19097
19108
19116
191211
191318
191426
191521
191635
191726
191817
191915
192016
192117
19227
192312
192412
192513
19267
192713
192810
192915
193014
193110
193217
193310
193412
19358
193613
19377
19388
193910
194015
19417
19426
19439
19446
19457
194710
19497
19509
19515
195217
19536
195412
195512
195612
195712
195816
195912
196019
196113
196219
196325
196418
196516
19669
196716
196815
196916
197026
197114
197214
197315
19749
197510
19769
197711
197811
19795
198011
19819
198221
19837
198411
198515
19869
198715
198816
19899
199013
199114
199212
199311
199413
199510
19969
199712
199813
199918
200013
200121
200222
200325
200421
200524
200617
200722
200820
200920
201026
201116
201224
201319
201438
201521
201624
201724
201829
201912
202026
202125
202233
202318
202425