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Wilhelm

Quick answerThe given name 'Wilhelm' is derived from the Germanic words 'wil' meaning "will" or "desire" and 'helm' meaning "helmet" or "protection", making it a name that signifies protection or defense.

German · Boy · 2 syllables

W
Top 5,000

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderBoy
US Rank#4,133
TrendStable
Peak year2014
Syllables2
OriginGerman
LanguageGerman
CultureGerman, Polish, Germanic
Letters7
Numerology1 Chaldean 9
Global rank#77

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Wilhelm

The given name 'Wilhelm' is derived from the Germanic words 'wil' meaning "will" or "desire" and 'helm' meaning "helmet" or "protection", making it a name that signifies protection or defense.

Cross-referenced with Wikidata/Wikipedia. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.

Etymology

The given name 'Wilhelm' is derived from the Germanic words 'wil' meaning "will" or "desire" and 'helm' meaning "helmet" or "protection", making it a name that signifies protection or defense. Wilhelm is commonly used in Germanic cultures, particularly in Germany and Scandinavia, and has historical significance as the name of several notable monarchs, including German Emperor Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II.

Wilhelm currently ranks #4,133 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2014.

Variants & nicknames

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Sibling name ideas

German, Polish, Germanic names that sit beautifully beside Wilhelm

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Names starting with W

Names that sound like Wilhelm

Phonetic match, not just spelling
William
Unisex English

"William derives from the Germanic elements "wil" (desire, will) and "helm" (helmet, protection), literally meaning "resolute protector" or "determined guardian."…"

Global rank #1 View name
Wilma
Unisex German

"Wilma is a feminine name meaning "resolute protector" or "determined will," derived from the Germanic elements "wil" (will, desire) and…"

Global rank #16 View name
Willem
Boy Dutch

"Willem means "resolute protector" and derives from the Germanic elements "wil" (will, desire) and "helm" (helmet, protection), making it the…"

Global rank #39 View name
Waylon
Unisex English

"Waylon is an English surname-turned-given name derived from the Old English elements "weg" (way/road) and "lān" (lane), literally meaning "dweller…"

Global rank #56 View name
Wilhelmina
Unisex Dutch

"Wilhelmina is the feminine form of Wilhelm, derived from the Germanic elements "wil" (will, desire) and "helm" (helmet, protection), meaning…"

Global rank #88 View name
Willemina
Girl Dutch

"The given name 'Willemina' is derived from the Germanic words 'will' meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'helmina' or 'helmina', a…"

Global rank #96 View name
Willaim
Boy Germanic

"The given name 'William' is derived from the Old High German name 'Wilhelm', composed of 'wil' meaning 'will' or 'desire'…"

Global rank #232 View name
Willian
Unisex Germanic

"Willian is a variant spelling of William, derived from the Germanic elements "wil" (desire, will) and "helm" (helmet, protection), meaning…"

Global rank #365 View name
Williamina
Girl Scottish

"Williamina is the feminine form of William, derived from the Germanic elements "wil" (desire, will) and "helm" (helmet, protection), meaning…"

Global rank #438 View name
Willyan
Boy Germanic

"Willyan is a variant spelling of William, derived from the Germanic elements "wil" (will, desire) and "helm" (helmet, protection), meaning…"

Global rank #614 View name
Willum
Boy Germanic

"Willum is a variant of William, meaning "resolute protector" from the Old High German elements *willio* (will, desire) and *helm*…"

Global rank #703 View name
Waylen
Unisex

"The given name 'Waylen' is derived from the Old English words 'weal' meaning 'foreigner' or 'stranger' and 'len' meaning 'peace'…"

Global rank #849 View name
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