Wilhelm
Boy name · #4051 in 2025 · Uniqueness 79/100
In 2025, 26 baby boys were named Wilhelm, placing it at #4051 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #4545, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 69,231 boys born in 2025 was named Wilhelm.
Babies named Wilhelm per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Wilhelm first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2014, when 38 boys were named Wilhelm — good for #2985 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wilhelm against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wilhelm in class?
Wilhelm scores 79 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Wilhelm will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Wilhelm is most common
State-level data for Wilhelm is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Wilhelm
Statistically, parents drawn to Wilhelm tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Joachim, Joaquim, Ebrahim, Adham, and Whitman.
JoachimJoaquimEbrahimAdhamWhitmanChapmanKendricMoishe
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wilhelm | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #4050 |
| 2024 | 25 | #4200 |
| 2023 | 18 | #5255 |
| 2022 | 33 | #3464 |
| 2021 | 25 | #4118 |
| 2020 | 26 | #3918 |
| 2019 | 12 | #6777 |
| 2018 | 29 | #3708 |
| 2017 | 24 | #4224 |
| 2016 | 24 | #4199 |
| 2015 | 21 | #4545 |
| 2014 | 38 | #2985 |
| 2013 | 19 | #4804 |
| 2012 | 24 | #4131 |
| 2011 | 16 | #5433 |
| 2010 | 26 | #3894 |
| 2009 | 20 | #4748 |
| 2008 | 20 | #4714 |
| 2007 | 22 | #4375 |
| 2006 | 17 | #5072 |
| 2005 | 24 | #3815 |
| 2004 | 21 | #4129 |
| 2003 | 25 | #3528 |
| 2002 | 22 | #3794 |
| 2001 | 21 | #3842 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Wilhelm a popular boy name?
Wilhelm ranked #4051 among boys in 2025 with 26 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4545.
When was the name Wilhelm most popular?
Wilhelm peaked in 2014, when 38 American boys received the name (ranked #2985 that year). Since 2014 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Wilhelm?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 69,231 newborn American boys was named Wilhelm. It scores 79/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.