Williams
Williams was the 3086th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 40 babies. Its best year was 1887, when it ranked 515th; the most babies were born in 1950 (86). Over the last ten years it has moved down 367 places. More babies were named Williams in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #3,086 boys, up 48 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 40boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 195086 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,150babies recorded
Williams popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 24 since 1958.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,086 | 40 |
| 2020 | #3,134 | 37 |
| 2010 | #3,179 | 36 |
| 2000 | #2,132 | 48 |
| 1990 | #1,352 | 69 |
| 1980 | #1,653 | 36 |
| 1970 | #1,349 | 39 |
| 1960 | #1,070 | 53 |
| 1950 | #746 | 86 |
| 1940 | #717 | 73 |
| 1930 | #742 | 74 |
| 1920 | #784 | 73 |
| 1910 | #821 | 15 |
| 1900 | #679 | 15 |
| 1890 | #666 | 10 |
| 1880 | #599 | 11 |
How popular is Williams, counting every spelling?
Williams has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Williams?
40 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Williams (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Williams born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 210 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Williams.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Williams?
About 3,600 people born in the US named Williams are alive today, with a median age of 38; half are between 20 and 62. That makes Williams mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Williams by state
How common Williams was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 48 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Williams: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Williams, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Williams
How popular is the name Williams?
Williams was the 3086th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 40 babies. Its best year was 1887, when it ranked 515th; the most babies were born in 1950 (86). Over the last ten years it has moved down 367 places. More babies were named Williams in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Williams a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Williams in the US.
Where is Williams most popular?
In 2021–2025, Williams was most common in Texas (0.03 per 1,000 boys), followed by Florida and New York.