Williams Boy

Popularity: #898 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-yums /ˈwɪljəmz/

Origin: English; Germanic

Meaning: English: resolute protector; Germanic: will helmet

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Williams is of English origin and is derived from the Old Germanic name Wilhelm, which is composed of the elements 'wil' meaning 'will or desire' and 'helm' meaning 'helmet or protection'. The name Wilhelm was introduced to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066, where it evolved into various forms, including William.

The patronymic form, Williams, signifies 'son of William', and it became a common surname in England by the Middle Ages, reflecting the widespread use of William as a first name among the nobility and commoners alike. Historically, the name William has been borne by numerous notable figures, including William the Conqueror, who was the first Norman King of England, reigning from 1066 to 1087.

His legacy significantly impacted English culture and language, as the Norman influence introduced many French words into English. Additionally, several English monarchs have carried the name, including William II, who ruled from 1087 to 1100, and William III, who reigned from 1689 to 1702.

The name also appears in religious contexts, notably in the King James Bible, which was published in 1611, although the name itself does not appear in biblical texts. Culturally, the name Williams has been associated with strength and leadership, reflecting its roots in the meanings of its components.

It has been a popular name in literature and history, often symbolizing nobility and valor. The diminutive form, Will, has also been used historically, further embedding the name into English-speaking culture.

The enduring nature of the name Williams can be attributed to its strong historical associations and the respect afforded to those who have borne it throughout the centuries.

Fictional characters named Williams

The following list of fictional characters named Williams is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Williams is a fictional character from the video game series Metal Gear Solid. He is a member of the U.S. military and plays a significant role in the storyline surrounding the conflict and espionage themes of the series.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Williams, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

JamesHenryThomasCharlesEdwardGeorge

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Williams. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

WilliamWillardWilburWinstonWallaceWhitmanWesley

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Williams was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Williams has ranked as high as #1659 nationally, which occurred in 1950, and has been most popular in Mississippi, California, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama.

In the past 5 years the name Williams has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Williams is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Williams was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Williams.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 40 40 0
2024 53 53 0
2023 57 57 0
2022 40 40 0
2021 46 46 0
2020 37 37 0
2019 45 45 0
2018 52 52 0
2017 42 42 0
2016 36 36 0
2015 45 45 0
2014 38 38 0
2013 40 40 0
2012 47 47 0
2011 45 45 0
2010 36 36 0
2009 56 56 0
2008 68 68 0
2007 63 63 0
2006 57 57 0
2005 53 53 0
2004 52 52 0
2003 58 58 0
2002 62 62 0
2001 63 63 0
2000 48 48 0
1999 53 53 0
1998 42 42 0
1997 47 47 0
1996 46 46 0
1995 29 29 0
1994 51 51 0
1993 59 59 0
1992 54 54 0
1991 44 44 0
1990 69 69 0
1989 39 39 0
1988 44 44 0
1987 47 47 0
1986 43 43 0
1985 33 33 0
1984 35 35 0
1983 33 33 0
1982 44 44 0
1981 34 29 5
1980 41 36 5
1979 33 33 0
1978 37 37 0
1977 28 28 0
1976 43 43 0
1975 42 42 0
1974 52 45 7
1973 33 33 0
1972 46 46 0
1971 58 58 0
1970 39 39 0
1969 52 52 0
1968 46 46 0
1967 45 45 0
1966 47 47 0
1965 54 54 0
1964 46 46 0
1963 56 56 0
1962 45 45 0
1961 66 66 0
1960 53 53 0
1959 60 60 0
1958 66 59 7
1957 65 65 0
1956 58 58 0
1955 75 75 0
1954 50 50 0
1953 51 51 0
1952 46 46 0
1951 56 56 0
1950 86 86 0
1949 64 64 0
1948 59 59 0
1947 60 60 0
1946 64 64 0
1945 48 48 0
1944 54 54 0
1943 50 50 0
1942 54 54 0
1941 47 47 0
1940 73 73 0
1939 50 50 0
1938 51 51 0
1937 57 57 0
1936 41 41 0
1935 64 64 0
1934 56 56 0
1933 42 42 0
1932 57 57 0
1931 55 55 0
1930 74 74 0
1929 58 58 0
1928 66 66 0
1927 68 68 0
1926 68 68 0
1925 47 47 0
1924 65 65 0
1923 54 54 0
1922 53 53 0
1921 51 51 0
1920 73 73 0
1919 45 45 0
1918 55 55 0
1917 44 44 0
1916 55 55 0
1915 53 53 0
1914 45 45 0
1913 21 21 0
1912 31 31 0
1911 22 22 0
1910 15 15 0
1909 20 20 0
1908 18 18 0
1907 11 11 0
1906 12 12 0
1905 12 12 0
1904 15 15 0
1903 9 9 0
1902 11 11 0
1901 11 11 0
1900 15 15 0
1899 9 9 0
1898 12 12 0
1897 14 14 0
1896 9 9 0
1895 10 10 0
1894 12 12 0
1893 7 7 0
1892 16 16 0
1891 7 7 0
1890 10 10 0
1889 6 6 0
1888 9 9 0
1887 13 13 0
1886 13 13 0
1885 11 11 0
1884 11 11 0
1883 13 13 0
1882 7 7 0
1881 7 7 0
1880 11 11 0

Top States for Williams (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 10
67%
NY 5
33%