Boys' name · since 1920
Wlliam
Since 1920, U.S. Social Security records show 96 babies named Wlliam, peaking in 1985. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #17,731 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 96
- born since 1920
- 1960s
- peak decade
96 boys have been named Wlliam since 1920, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Wlliam recorded 96 times among boys since 1920, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1960s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1920 to 1987.
- #17,731 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 96 born since 1920
- 1960s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Wlliam ranks #17,731 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 96 born since 1920, peaking in the 1960s.
- #17,731 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 96
- born since 1920
- 1960s
- peak decade
Wlliam's 96 recorded births place it above 61% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
No state rows cleared SSA’s public reporting threshold for this name.
Wlliam's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Wlliam's SSA record in two at 1965 and the more recent half accounts for 55% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 45%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1927, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1985 peak of 13, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Wlliam popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1920–1987
- Peak year (1985)
- 13
- Annual births at peak, across 68 years of records
Wlliam by decade
1960s is the heaviest window (39 births, 41% of the file).
1960s was Wlliam's strongest decade.
39 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 41% of all-time use.
Wlliam births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 11
1920s
11 births
- 1940s 6
1940s
6 births
- 1960s
1960s
39 births
- 1970s 14
1970s
14 births
- 1980s
1980s
26 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 39 births (41% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Wlliam? ▼
Where does Wlliam sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Wlliam most popular? ▼
How long has the name Wlliam been used? ▼
What to do with Wlliam's data
- Wlliam's usage has stayed within range of its 1960s decade-level peak (39 total births) through the 1980s (26) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Wlliam
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Wlliam: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1985)
Similar record span (~67 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1920–1987 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Wlliam 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 August 2026.