William Wills

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

William Wills — strong protector
3.7 million People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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William Wills 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 Wills: Alec Wills (1911–1941), English cricketer and Royal Air Force officer Alfred Wills (1828–1912), English High Court judge and mountaineer Andrew Wills (born 1972), Australian football player Anneke Wills (born 1941), British actress Arthur Wills (musician) (1926–2020), English musician, composer and professor Arthur Walters Wills (1868–1948), English politician, MP for North Dorset Bob Wills (1905–1975), American Western swing musician Bump Wills (born 1952), American baseball player Childe Wills (1878–1940), early associate of Henry Ford, and contributor to the design of the Model T Chill Will. 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: Wills

English

Alec Wills (1911–1941), English cricketer and Royal Air Force officer Alfred Wills (1828–1912), English High Court judge and mountaineer Andrew Wills (born 1972), Australian football player Anneke Wills (born 1941), British actress Arthur Wills (musician) (1926–2020), English musician, composer and professor Arthur Walters Wills (1868–1948), English politician, MP for North Dorset Bob Wills (1905–1975), American Western swing musician Bump Wills (born 1952), American baseball player Childe Wills (1878–1940), early associate of Henry Ford, and contributor to the design of the Model T Chill Will.

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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 Wills

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 Wills:

1
Expression Number

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

1
Soul Urge Number

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

9
Personality Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

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 Wills?
The surname Wills originates from English. Alec Wills (1911–1941), English cricketer and Royal Air Force officer Alfred Wills (1828–1912), English High Court judge and mountaineer Andrew Wills (born 1972), Australian football player Anneke Wills (born 1941), British actress Arthur Wills (musician) (1926–2020), English musician, composer and professor Arthur Walters Wills (1868–1948), English politician, MP for North Dorset Bob Wills (1905–1975), American Western swing musician Bump Wills (born 1952), American baseball player Childe Wills (1878–1940), early associate of Henry Ford, and contributor to the design of the Model T Chill Will.
What are the origins of the name William Wills?
The name William Wills combines two different traditions: the first name William has Germanic roots, while the surname Wills originates from English.
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