Willem
Boy name · #2574 in 2025 · Uniqueness 79/100
In 2025, 51 baby boys were named Willem, placing it at #2574 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2086, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 35,294 boys born in 2025 was named Willem.
Babies named Willem per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 109-year story
Willem first appears in the Social Security records in 1916, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2003, when 122 boys were named Willem — good for #1205 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 Willem against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Willem in class?
Willem 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 Willem will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Willem is most common
State-level data for Willem 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 Willem
Statistically, parents drawn to Willem tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Naeem, Naseem, Shulem, Vikram, and Cutter.
NaeemNaseemShulemVikramCutterNahumWaleedDaylon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Willem | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51 | #2572 |
| 2024 | 50 | #2637 |
| 2023 | 51 | #2575 |
| 2022 | 54 | #2517 |
| 2021 | 75 | #1982 |
| 2020 | 60 | #2264 |
| 2019 | 76 | #1938 |
| 2018 | 62 | #2210 |
| 2017 | 56 | #2319 |
| 2016 | 70 | #2028 |
| 2015 | 67 | #2086 |
| 2014 | 87 | #1730 |
| 2013 | 86 | #1709 |
| 2012 | 82 | #1799 |
| 2011 | 74 | #1886 |
| 2010 | 83 | #1778 |
| 2009 | 71 | #1975 |
| 2008 | 98 | #1603 |
| 2007 | 105 | #1509 |
| 2006 | 103 | #1479 |
| 2005 | 107 | #1390 |
| 2004 | 112 | #1316 |
| 2003 | 122 | #1205 |
| 2002 | 109 | #1244 |
| 2001 | 79 | #1527 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Willem a popular boy name?
Willem ranked #2574 among boys in 2025 with 51 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2086.
When was the name Willem most popular?
Willem peaked in 2003, when 122 American boys received the name (ranked #1205 that year). Since 2003 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Willem?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 35,294 newborn American boys was named Willem. 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.