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Williams

♂ Boy

Pronounced WIL-yams /ˈwɪljəmz/Medium

Meaning: son of William ('will' + 'helmet')Low

In 30 seconds: Williams is an English and Welsh name meaning 'son of William', from elements that join 'will' and 'helmet'.
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Origin MediumEnglish/Welsh
Meaningson of William ('will' + 'helmet')
U.S. rank (2024)#2542 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births53 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1950
Total births (all-time)≈ 6,086

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195018802024

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

History & Origin

Williams began as a patronymic, marking someone as the son of William, a name built from words meaning will and helmet, or protection. Used as a given name, it carries that family-name weight directly. Its English and Welsh background fits a name that became common across the British Isles.

The added '-s' gives it a surname-like formality even when used for a first name.

Did you know? Williams reached first-name use through the surname meaning 'son of William', which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 62%
Behind the Name - Williams — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSVEtymology — Williams — meaning/etymology

Variations

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Nicknames

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If you like Williams…

William— The root name Williams means 'son of', sharing the 'will' and 'helmet' elements.
Will— The short form of the William behind Williams.
Liam— A clipped form of William, carrying the same root.
Wilson— Another 'son of Will' patronymic close in form to Williams.

Browse the whole category: All English/Welsh names →  ·  All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Williams mean?

Williams is a patronymic surname meaning 'son of William', the personal name combining Germanic 'will' and 'helmet'.

How do you pronounce Williams?

It's commonly said WIL-yams /ˈwil.ljəms/.

Is Williams a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Williams is used as a boy name.

How popular is Williams?

In 2024, Williams ranked #2542 in the U.S. for boys, with 53 births recorded.