Albert vs William
Albert and Williamcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Albert was ranked #58 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Albert was ranked #57 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Albert was ranked #216 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Albert was ranked #218 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Albert was ranked #348 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Albert and William over time
Albert and William appear together in 4 published lists, across 182 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Albert in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Albert in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Albert and William changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #58 and #3.
- Longest-running competitions
Albert and William were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 80 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #58 and #3.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Albert #101 in 1964, William #8 in 1964.
List by list
Norway · Boys80 shared years, 1945–2025
Albert held the stronger position in 7 of those years, William in 73.
Highest recorded here: Albert #52 in 2021, William #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1971: William moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #341 and #393; by 1971 that had become #540 and #287.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Albert #58, William #3.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Albert held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 62.
Highest recorded here: Albert #101 in 1964, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Albert #348, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Albert held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Albert #55 in 2018, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Albert #57, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 1997–2024
Albert held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 11.
Highest recorded here: Albert #200 in 2023, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Albert #216, William #64.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Albert | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #58 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Albert does not have one recorded yet.
- Albert and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Albert doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Albert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #227 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #52 among boys in Norway, in 2021 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #58 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys