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How Many People Are Named William?
Estimated people named William living in the U.S. today
2,276,953
Gender distribution
100% male · 0% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 4,205,026
- Peak year: 1947 (67,155 births)
- Estimated living today: 2,276,953
William by age group — who carries the name today?
William popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name William
William has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 4,205,026 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 2,276,953 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 150 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Williams you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named William in the US?
An estimated 2,276,953 people named William are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes William very common — about 1 in 150 Americans.
Is William a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, William is 100% male and 0% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was William most popular?
William peaked in 1947, when 67,155 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name William?
William ranks #6 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 26 out of 100 (higher means rarer).