Wilhelm
Boy name · #4051 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Wilhelm? In official American birth records, Wilhelm has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Wilhelm is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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 too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Wilhelm?
In official American birth records, the name Wilhelm first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.