William Holden
Name meaning, origin and global statistics
William Holden 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 Holden: Alexandra Holden (born 1977), American actress Albert Fairchild Holden (1866–1913), founder of Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio Amanda Holden (born 1971), English actress Amanda Holden (writer) (1948–2021), British music writer and translator Andy Holden (footballer) (born 1962), Welsh footballer Andy Holden (artist) (born 1982), English artist Andy Holden (athlete) (1948–2014), English long-distance runner John Andrew Holden Anthony Holden (1947–2023), British journalist Arthur Holden (footballer), English footballer Bernard Holden (1908–2012), British railway engineer Beverly Holden, All-A. 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: Holden
Welsh
Alexandra Holden (born 1977), American actress Albert Fairchild Holden (1866–1913), founder of Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio Amanda Holden (born 1971), English actress Amanda Holden (writer) (1948–2021), British music writer and translator Andy Holden (footballer) (born 1962), Welsh footballer Andy Holden (artist) (born 1982), English artist Andy Holden (athlete) (1948–2014), English long-distance runner John Andrew Holden Anthony Holden (1947–2023), British journalist Arthur Holden (footballer), English footballer Bernard Holden (1908–2012), British railway engineer Beverly Holden, All-A.
Geographic Distribution
The first name William is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:
Popularity Over Time
Popularity of the name William by decade, based on birth registration data:
Name Variants & Related Names
The name William has several variants and related forms across different languages and cultures:
Notable People Named William Holden
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 Holden:
Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.
Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.
Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.
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 Holden?
- The surname Holden originates from Welsh. Alexandra Holden (born 1977), American actress Albert Fairchild Holden (1866–1913), founder of Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio Amanda Holden (born 1971), English actress Amanda Holden (writer) (1948–2021), British music writer and translator Andy Holden (footballer) (born 1962), Welsh footballer Andy Holden (artist) (born 1982), English artist Andy Holden (athlete) (1948–2014), English long-distance runner John Andrew Holden Anthony Holden (1947–2023), British journalist Arthur Holden (footballer), English footballer Bernard Holden (1908–2012), British railway engineer Beverly Holden, All-A.
- What are the origins of the name William Holden?
- The name William Holden combines two different traditions: the first name William has Germanic roots, while the surname Holden originates from Welsh.