Total births
1,256
Boys' name · since 1881
Wiliam
Since 1881, U.S. Social Security records show 1,256 babies named Wiliam, peaking in 1982. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #6483
- among boys today
- 1,256
- born since 1881
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 55%
- more common than other boys
Wiliam currently ranks #6483 among boys' names in America, with 1,256 babies recorded since 1881.
Social Security Administration records show Wiliam recorded 1,256 times among boys since 1881, holding rank #6483 nationally today, ahead of 55% of boys, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1881 to 2025.
- #6483 among boys today
- 1,256 born since 1881
- 1980s peak decade
- 55% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Wiliam is currently the #6483 boys' name in America, more common than 55% of boys - 1,256 born since 1881, peaking in the 1980s.
- #6483
- among boys today
- 1,256
- born since 1881
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 55%
- more common than other boys
Wiliam vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6483
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 55% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
16% of everyone ever named Wiliam was born in this single decade.
1982
Single peak year
28 babies were named Wiliam in 1982 - its busiest year on record.
How Wiliam compares
1,256 Top 27% higher than 73% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Wiliam's all-time total is 3x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Wiliam | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,256 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 28 | 23 | 22,252 |
Wiliam's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Wiliam's SSA record in two at 1971 and the more recent half accounts for 60% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 40%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1881, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1982 peak of 28, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Wiliam at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1982
Current rank
#6,483
Active since
1881
Wiliam popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1881–2025
- Peak year (1982)
- 28
- Annual births at peak, across 145 years of records
Wiliam by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Wiliam's strongest decade.
198 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 16% of all-time use.
Wiliam births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1910s 43
1910s
43 births
- 1920s
1920s
102 births
- 1930s 54
1930s
54 births
- 1940s
1940s
80 births
- 1950s
1950s
98 births
- 1960s
1960s
102 births
- 1970s
1970s
159 births
- 1980s
1980s
198 births
- 1990s
1990s
115 births
- 2000s
2000s
121 births
- 2010s
2010s
125 births
- 2020s 54
2020s
54 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 198 births (16% of all-time use).
How Wiliam compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Wiliam's total volume
Wiliam vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Wiliam by state
Where Wiliam concentrates geographically, total births since 1881
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 11 | 0.9% |
| #2 | New York | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #3 | Texas | | 5 | 0.4% |
California share of Wiliam's total US births 0.9%
Even split
11 of 1,256 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Wiliam? ▼
1,256 babies have been named Wiliam since 1881. It currently ranks #6483 among boys. The peak year was 1982 with 28 births.
When was Wiliam most popular? ▼
Wiliam was most popular in the 1980s decade with 198 total births. The single peak year was 1982.
Where is Wiliam most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Wiliam are California (11 births), New York (5 births), Texas (5 births).
How long has the name Wiliam been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Wiliam since 1881 -- 145 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Wiliam? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include William, Willie, Willard, Wilbur, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Wiliam's data
- Wiliam's decade-level peak was the 1980s (198 total births); usage has since declined to 54 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Wiliams (11 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Wiliam
Nearby Names Like Wiliam
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Wiliam
William Boy
#10 4,199,696 births
Willie Boy
#1364 450,188 births
Willard Boy
#2958 77,658 births
Wilbur Boy
#2959 56,906 births
Willis Boy
#2638 52,336 births
Compare Wiliam side by side: Wiliam vs William Wiliam vs Willie Wiliam vs Willard
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Wiliam
Talmage #6482
2,281 births · Peak 1922
Elwin #6484
5,176 births · Peak 1923
Antone #6481
5,967 births · Peak 1921
Gaines #6485
1,717 births · Peak 1915
Garret #6480
13,247 births · Peak 2000
Rosco #6486
1,440 births · Peak 1922
Alvis #6479
5,206 births · Peak 1924
Gale #6487
12,437 births · Peak 1947
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1881–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Wiliam: #6483 Boys' Name - 1,256 Births, Peak 1982." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/wiliam. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Wiliam draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.