| David | William | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Beloved | Resolute protector |
| Origin | Hebrew | Germanic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | DAY-vid | WIL-yum |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1955 (86,306) | 1947 (67,002) |
| In 2025 | 6,794 | 10,545 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | David | William |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 45,615 | 68,067 |
| 2010s | 116,740 | 159,981 |
| 2000s | 180,098 | 194,415 |
| 1990s | 253,711 | 217,822 |
| 1980s | 383,687 | 248,277 |
| 1970s | 445,704 | 283,401 |
| 1960s | 733,953 | 421,433 |
| 1950s | 769,963 | 591,228 |
| 1940s | 426,372 | 556,478 |
| 1930s | 164,701 | 416,730 |
| 1920s | 88,736 | 512,402 |
| 1910s | 43,853 | 303,017 |
| 1900s | 8,619 | 69,320 |
| 1890s | 7,333 | 72,244 |
| 1880s | 7,569 | 84,881 |
David is Hebrew for “beloved.” In the Bible he is the shepherd boy who felled Goliath and became the great king of Israel; he is also the patron saint of Wales.
William is a Germanic name meaning “resolute protector,” from wil (“will, desire”) and helm (“helmet, protection”). William the Conqueror brought it to England in 1066, and it has been a royal staple ever since.
William is more popular than David today: about 10,545 US babies were given the name William in 2025, compared with 6,794 named David.
David means Beloved (Hebrew origin), while William means Resolute protector (Germanic origin).
In US records, David first appears in 1880 and William in 1880, so David has the longer recorded history.