Willem
Boy name · #2574 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Willem? In official American birth records, Willem has been tracked continuously since 1916, giving it 109 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Willem is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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 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 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
How old is the name Willem?
In official American birth records, the name Willem first appeared in 1916 (over 109 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 109 years.
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. 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.