How Many People Are Named Williams?
Complete statistics for the name Williams: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Williams is a classic name with roots in English surnames, making it very rare today with only 3,642 people bearing it in the US, or 1 in 90,610 Americans. The majority of Williamses are over 60, giving the name a distinctly older-generation feel.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 8 symbolizes power, authority, and success.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 64All 6,099 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1950Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Williams Through the Generations
Williams has been a steady presence through the generations, peaking in popularity in 1950 with 86 births. Today, the name's bearers span across different age groups, but a significant portion, 55%, are over 60 years old. This trend suggests that Williams remains a name associated with older generations, slowly declining in usage among younger parents.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Williams's English surname used as a first name roots
📄 About the Name Williams
How Many People Have the Name Williams?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,561,395 people in the United States currently share the name Williams. That works out to roughly 1 in every 212 Americans, placing it in the Common category.
Is Williams a Common or Rare Name?
Williams is classified as Common. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Williams Mean?
Williams means "English surname used as a first name" and comes from English surname used as a first name origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Williams in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Williams Most Popular?
The name Williams reached peak popularity in 1950, with 86 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Williams?
Approximately 1,561,395 people named Williams live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,561,395. That works out to roughly 1 in 212 Americans.
Is Williams a rare name?
Williams is classified as Common in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 212 Americans has this name.
What does the name Williams mean?
Williams means "English surname used as a first name" and comes from English surname used as a first name origins.
Is Williams more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Williams are male and 1% are female.
When was Williams most popular?
Williams peaked in 1950 with 86 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.