Willem - A very unique male name
Willem at a glance
Willem is ranked #2990 among boy baby names in 2025, with 12 births in 2025. It peaked in 2003 at #1261 and first appeared on the charts in 1989.
- Rank in 2025
- #2990
- Births in 2025
- 12
- Peak year
- 2003 (#1261)
- First appeared
- 1989
- Trend
- #2850 in 2020 → #2990 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 122,190 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.0/5 (7 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 122,190 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Willem peaked in popularity 23 years ago in 2003 on position 1261.
Famous with this name
Willem Dafoe
Willem Aantjes
Willem
How would you rate Willem, 1-5?
Willem is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Willem is currently topping the baby name charts in California at position #2,195 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #2,926.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Willem is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Willem origin and meaning
Dutch and Frisian form of William
Resolute protector — from Germanic wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection), via William
Willem is the Dutch and Frisian form of William, from the Germanic elements wil, will, and helm, helmet or protection. It has been used in the United States since the late 1980s, peaking in 2003. It gives the familiar William a distinctly Dutch spelling and sound.
Attested etymology
Willem is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Willem, pop culture references for the name Willem and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Willem
We've found the following names that sound similar to Willem, sorted by popularity.
William / Waylon / Waylen / Willian / Willam / Waylan / Wilhelm / Willaim / Wiliam / Wilmon /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2990 |
| 2024 | 2929 |
| 2023 | 3001 |
| 2022 | 4330 |
| 2021 | 2124 |
| 2020 | 2850 |
| 2019 | 2035 |
| 2018 | 2031 |
| 2017 | 2529 |
| 2016 | 2217 |
| 2015 | 2173 |
| 2014 | 1925 |
| 2013 | 1732 |
| 2012 | 2046 |
| 2011 | 2405 |
| 2010 | 2274 |
| 2009 | 2219 |
| 2008 | 1588 |
| 2007 | 1760 |
| 2006 | 1525 |
| 2005 | 1552 |
| 2004 | 1444 |
| 2003 | 1261 |
| 2002 | 1527 |
| 2001 | 1727 |
| 2000 | 1422 |
| 1999 | 1538 |
| 1998 | 1862 |
| 1997 | 2238 |
| 1996 | 2076 |
| 1995 | 3034 |
| 1994 | 2174 |
| 1993 | 3079 |
| 1992 | 2757 |
| 1990 | 3494 |
| 1989 | 3431 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| California | 2195 |
| Texas | 2926 |
Even more about Willem
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Willem a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Willem?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
VIL-em · /ˈvɪləm/
Dutch speakers say VIL-em; English speakers often say WIL-em. The two genuinely split.
Around the world
- Wilhelm (German) — German cognate
- Guillaume (French) — French cognate
- William (English) — English cognate
Spellings and nicknames
- William — English cognate, a separate established name
Famous bearers
- Willem Dafoe — American actor, known by this spelling (b. 1955) Contemporary
- Willem de Kooning — Dutch-American abstract expressionist painter (1904–1997) Historical
Style
ClassicInternational
Why parents choose it
William in Dutch dress — familiar, but with a European edge.
Worth knowing
- English speakers may pronounce it WIL-em or spell it William, losing the Dutch form.
