Glenn vs William
Glenn 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 2012, Glenn was ranked #545 and William #1 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1983, Glenn was ranked #100 and William #24 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Glenn was ranked #5119 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Glenn was ranked #99 and William #31 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Glenn was ranked #343 and William #36 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Glenn was ranked #829 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Glenn and William over time
Glenn and William appear together in 6 published lists, across 220 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Glenn in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Glenn 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Glenn and William changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1986, ending at #99 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Glenn and William averaged 17.7 places apart, ending at #99 and #31.
- Mirrored each other
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Boys, William rose about as far as Glenn fell — from #329 and #189 in 1948 to #545 and #1 in 2012.
- Longest-running competitions
Glenn and William were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #99 and #31.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Glenn #104 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1948–2012
Glenn held the stronger position in 38 of those years, William in 23.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #57 in 1974, William #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Glenn #545, William #1.
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2025
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 55.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #92 in 1992, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Glenn #829, William #73.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1952–1986
Glenn held the stronger position in 15 of those years, William in 20.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #16 in 1962, William #12 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Glenn #99, William #31.
New Zealand · Boys29 shared years, 1954–1983
Glenn held the stronger position in 3 of those years, William in 26.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #28 in 1971, William #11 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Glenn #100, William #24.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 27.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #278 in 1996, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Glenn #5119, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2013
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 13.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #104 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Glenn #343, William #36.
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 | Glenn | 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 | /ˈwɪljəm/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, 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) | 94/100 | 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)); Glenn does not have one recorded yet.
- Glenn has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for William.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Glenn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Glenn
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #329 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · 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