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Wilhelm

♂ Boy

Pronounced VIL-helm /ˈvɪl.hɛlm/Medium

Meaning: German form of William — Germanic wil, 'will', plus helm, 'helmet, protection' — 'resolute protector'High

In 30 seconds: The mighty German William: Wilhelm means 'resolute protector' — borne by kaisers and composers. Strong, stately, and historic.

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Origin HighGerman

MeaningGerman form of William — Germanic wil, 'will', plus helm, 'helmet, protection' — 'resolute protector'

U.S. rank (2025)#4133 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births26 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2014

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,827

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Wilhelm is the German form of William — from Germanic wil, 'will', plus helm, 'helmet, protection' — 'resolute protector'. A strong, historic name borne by German emperors and luminaries.

In the U.S. it appears in German families. Rare, resolute-protector at the root, and stately.

Did you know? Wilhelm is the German William — 'will' plus 'helmet, protection' — borne by German emperors (Kaiser Wilhelm) and the Brothers Grimm's Wilhelm; strong and stately.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Wilhelm — etymology

Variations

WilliamWilhelmusVilhelm

Nicknames

WimWilli

Famous Bearers

★Wilhelm II (1859-1941)
Last German Emperor and King of Prussia, who reigned from 1888 until his abdication in 1918
★Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (1845-1923)
German physicist who discovered X-rays and received the first Nobel Prize in Physics
★Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
German composer renowned for his operas including the Ring Cycle and Tristan und Isolde
★Wilhelm Grimm (1786-1859)
German author who, with brother Jacob, collected and published the famous Grimm's Fairy Tales

If you like Wilhelm…

William— the English form

Willem— the Dutch form

Wolfgang— another German name

Witten— a fellow German choice

Dietrich— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Wilhelm

By themegerman royal

By meaningProtector

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Wilhelm mean?

Wilhelm is the German William — 'resolute protector' ('will' + 'helmet').

How do you pronounce Wilhelm?

It's said VIL-helm /ˈvɪl.hɛlm/ — two syllables, stress on the first (German W is 'V').

Is Wilhelm a boy or girl name?

Wilhelm is a boy's name.

How popular is Wilhelm?

Wilhelm is a rare name in the U.S.