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Williemae
How to Pronounce Williemae
Pronounced wil-ee-MAY /ˌwɪl.iˈmeɪ/Medium
Meaning: Williemae is an early-twentieth-century American compound joining Willie — a pet form tied to Wilhelmina or William, from Germanic 'will' plus 'helmet, protection' — with Mae, a spelling of May/Mary; it is a classic Southern double name.Medium
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
Williemae welds Willie, a pet form linked to Wilhelmina and William — Germanic wil, 'will, desire', and helm, 'helmet, protection' — with Mae, a spelling of May and a short form of Mary. Run-together double names like this were a signature of early-twentieth-century Southern naming, especially in Black communities.
Williemae has a faint record from the 1890s, cresting around 1920 and gone by the late 1960s — only a few dozen girls a year at most. It reads as a great-grandmother's Southern name, warmly old-fashioned and unrevived.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Williemae mean?
Williemae is a compound of Willie (from Wilhelmina/William) and Mae (from Mary), a Southern double name.
How do you pronounce Williemae?
It's said wil-ee-MAY /ˌwɪl.iˈmeɪ/ — three syllables, stress on the last.
Is Williemae a boy or girl name?
Williemae is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Williemae?
Williemae is rare and old-fashioned — an early-twentieth-century Southern compound borne by only a few dozen girls a year at its peak.