William Gilligan

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

William Gilligan — strong protector
3.7 million People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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William Gilligan 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 Gilligan: Amy Archer-Gilligan (1873–1962), American serial killer and poisoner Andrew Gilligan, British journalist Arthur Gilligan, English cricketer Billy Gilligan, Scottish footballer Carol Gilligan, American feminist ethicist and psychologist Harold Gilligan, English cricketer James Gilligan, American psychiatrist and author Jim Gilligan (born 1946), American college baseball coach Jimmy Gilligan, former English footballer Ruth Gilligan (born 1988), Irish writer and actress Ryan Gilligan, English footballer Sam Gilligan, Scottish footballer Sandy Gilligan, Scottish footballer Shannon Gilligan, author. 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: Gilligan

Irish

Amy Archer-Gilligan (1873–1962), American serial killer and poisoner Andrew Gilligan, British journalist Arthur Gilligan, English cricketer Billy Gilligan, Scottish footballer Carol Gilligan, American feminist ethicist and psychologist Harold Gilligan, English cricketer James Gilligan, American psychiatrist and author Jim Gilligan (born 1946), American college baseball coach Jimmy Gilligan, former English footballer Ruth Gilligan (born 1988), Irish writer and actress Ryan Gilligan, English footballer Sam Gilligan, Scottish footballer Sandy Gilligan, Scottish footballer Shannon Gilligan, author.

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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 Gilligan

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 Gilligan:

6
Expression Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

11
Soul Urge Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

4
Personality Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

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 Gilligan?
The surname Gilligan originates from Irish. Amy Archer-Gilligan (1873–1962), American serial killer and poisoner Andrew Gilligan, British journalist Arthur Gilligan, English cricketer Billy Gilligan, Scottish footballer Carol Gilligan, American feminist ethicist and psychologist Harold Gilligan, English cricketer James Gilligan, American psychiatrist and author Jim Gilligan (born 1946), American college baseball coach Jimmy Gilligan, former English footballer Ruth Gilligan (born 1988), Irish writer and actress Ryan Gilligan, English footballer Sam Gilligan, Scottish footballer Sandy Gilligan, Scottish footballer Shannon Gilligan, author.
What are the origins of the name William Gilligan?
The name William Gilligan combines two different traditions: the first name William has Germanic roots, while the surname Gilligan originates from Irish.
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