Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Wm isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Wm through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,736
- 2,650 boys · 86 girls
- Most popular year
- 1916
- 91 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 97% boys.
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 6 in 1992. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 85 in 1916. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include a sample rank of No. 364 among male first names in 1990.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Similar names
If you love Wm, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Clem
“one who is merciful” · “an easygoing woman”
99% boys · 1% girls
Newell
“from the new manor”
98% boys · 2% girls
Hyman
“a giver of life”
>99% boys
Durward
“a gatekeeper”
>99% boys
Verl
92% boys · 8% girls
Cloyd
“one who works with nails”
>99% boys
Furman
“a ferryman”
>99% boys
Elmore
“from the moor of the elm trees”
>99% boys