William Darby

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

William Darby — strong protector
3.7 million People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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William Darby is a name that combines Germanic origins. The first name William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. From the Old High German Willahelm, composed of wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection). Introduced to England by William the Conqueror in 1066. The surname Darby: Abiah Darby (1716–1794), English Quaker minister Abraham Darby I (1678–1717), British ironmaster and pioneer of coke-fired smelting Abraham Darby II (1711–1763), British ironmaster, son of Abraham I Abraham Darby III (1750–1791), British ironmaster, builder of the world's first iron bridge Abraham Darby IV (1804–1878), British ironmaster Adrian Darby (born 1937), British environmentalist Al Darby (born 1954), American football player Alden Darby (born 1992), Canadian football player Angie Darby (born 1987), Australian modern pentathlete Anthony Darby (born 1972), Australian footballer Arthur D. William is one of the most widespread first names worldwide, carried by approximately 3.7 million people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name William reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: William

Meaning: strong protector

Germanic

From the Old High German Willahelm, composed of wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection). Introduced to England by William the Conqueror in 1066.

Surname: Darby

English

Abiah Darby (1716–1794), English Quaker minister Abraham Darby I (1678–1717), British ironmaster and pioneer of coke-fired smelting Abraham Darby II (1711–1763), British ironmaster, son of Abraham I Abraham Darby III (1750–1791), British ironmaster, builder of the world's first iron bridge Abraham Darby IV (1804–1878), British ironmaster Adrian Darby (born 1937), British environmentalist Al Darby (born 1954), American football player Alden Darby (born 1992), Canadian football player Angie Darby (born 1987), Australian modern pentathlete Anthony Darby (born 1972), Australian footballer Arthur D.

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Geographic Distribution

The first name William is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 46%
United Kingdom 24%
Germany 13%
Australia 9%
Canada 8%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name William by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Name Variants & Related Names

The name William has several variants and related forms across different languages and cultures:

  • Will
  • Bill
  • Willy
  • Billy
  • Guillaume
  • Wilhelm
  • Guillermo

Notable People Named William Darby

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for William Darby:

3
Expression Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

2
Soul Urge Number

Cooperation and sensitivity. A diplomatic, gentle nature with strong empathy, thriving in partnerships and harmony.

1
Personality Number

Leadership and independence. This number suggests a self-reliant, ambitious and pioneering personality that forges its own path.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name William?
The first name William originates from Germanic. From the Old High German Willahelm, composed of wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection). Introduced to England by William the Conqueror in 1066.
When was William most popular?
The name William reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Darby?
The surname Darby originates from English. Abiah Darby (1716–1794), English Quaker minister Abraham Darby I (1678–1717), British ironmaster and pioneer of coke-fired smelting Abraham Darby II (1711–1763), British ironmaster, son of Abraham I Abraham Darby III (1750–1791), British ironmaster, builder of the world's first iron bridge Abraham Darby IV (1804–1878), British ironmaster Adrian Darby (born 1937), British environmentalist Al Darby (born 1954), American football player Alden Darby (born 1992), Canadian football player Angie Darby (born 1987), Australian modern pentathlete Anthony Darby (born 1972), Australian footballer Arthur D.
What are the origins of the name William Darby?
The name William Darby combines two different traditions: the first name William has Germanic roots, while the surname Darby originates from English.
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