Fun Facts About the Name Uilliam
- 52 babies named Uilliam: U.S. records list 52 babies given the name Uilliam from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Uilliam Mean?
Uilliam is the Irish Gaelic form of William, and it carries the same meaning. The name behind it is Germanic: Willahelm, built from wiljon ("will, desire") and helmaz ("helmet, protection"). Read literally it is something like "helmet of will" or "will-protection"; the customary English rendering of that compound is "resolute protector."
Uilliam is a borrowing rather than a native Irish word. It corresponds to the Norman French forms Willaume and Willame, and ultimately to Old French Guillaume. That is why Uilliam is best described as a Gaelic variant of William rather than a name with a separate origin of its own.
Uilliam Name History & Origins
Norman French speakers settled in Ireland after the invasion of 1169, bringing forms of the name that Gaelic speakers adopted and reshaped. Irish had no native w at the start of a word, so a foreign W- was normally rendered as U-. This produced Uilliam, in the same way that other imported names were Gaelicized, such as Uáitéar from Walter.
In Irish-language sources the name was the standard Gaelic equivalent of William, applied to Anglo-Norman settlers and their descendants and, over the centuries, to Irish people more generally. Its Scottish Gaelic counterpart is Uilleam and its Manx counterpart is Illiam. The short form Liam, now widely used on its own, grew out of these longer Gaelic and English forms rather than the reverse.
How Popular is the Name Uilliam?
Uilliam has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2018. Its best rank was #7,572 in 2018.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #14,055 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #10,715 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #14,166 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #10,722 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #7,572 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #12,132 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #11,987 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #13,929 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with U
How the Name Uilliam Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have talent, charm and luck. You can succeed in art and in any educational occupation. You attract peculiar experiences. Your power and protection lies in spiritual side of life. You are an enthusiastic collector and you will be tenacious in holding onto the things you accumulate. You have a good memory and should make an effort to have a positive attitude. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Uilliam's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Uilliam's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.