Connor vs William
Connor 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2022, Connor was ranked #87 and William #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2022, Connor was ranked #92 and William #10 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Connor was ranked #264 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Connor was ranked #164 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Connor was ranked #88 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Connor was ranked #829 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Connor and William over time
Connor and William appear together in 5 published lists, across 177 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Connor 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.
Connor reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, William in 2. 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1999, William moved ahead of Connor in England and Wales · Boys — #11 and #14 the year before became #22 and #10.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Connor and William averaged 43.6 places apart, ending at #87 and #4.
- Longest-running competitions
Connor and William were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 31 years, from 1992 to 2022, ending at #92 and #10.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Connor #35 in 1998, William #26 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #13 and #21 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #264 and #27.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Connor held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 61.
Highest recorded here: Connor #71 in 1998, William #8 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Connor #829, William #73.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1992–2022
Connor held the stronger position in 1 of those years, William in 30.
Highest recorded here: Connor #11 in 1999, William #3 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Connor #92, William #10.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Connor held the stronger position in 3 of those years, William in 26.
Highest recorded here: Connor #11 in 1998, William #7 in 2006.
The order changed in 1999: William moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #11 and #14; by 1999 that had become #22 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Connor #264, William #27.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1994–2022
Connor held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 28.
Highest recorded here: Connor #23 in 2003, William #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Connor #87, William #4.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Connor held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 28.
Highest recorded here: Connor #35 in 1998, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Connor #164, 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 | Connor | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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)); Connor does not have one recorded yet.
- Connor and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Connor doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Connor
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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