Håvar vs William
Håvar 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 2010, Håvar was ranked #501 and William #2 among boys in Norway.
Håvar and William over time
Håvar and William appear together in 1 published list, across 45 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Håvar in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Håvar reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and William 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
Håvar and William changed places 8 times in Norway · Boys between 1964 and 2010, ending at #501 and #2.
- Longest-running competitions
Håvar and William were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 45 years, from 1964 to 2010, ending at #501 and #2.
List by list
Norway · Boys45 shared years, 1964–2010
Håvar held the stronger position in 4 of those years, William in 41.
Highest recorded here: Håvar #253 in 1977, William #2 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Håvar #501, William #2.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving William
Pairs where William shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- William vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #27 and #364.
William · Bradley · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #26 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #58 and #395.
William · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #402.
William · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Aksel
William and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #3 and #25.
William · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Side by side
| Field | Håvar | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #501 (2010) | 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) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Håvar does not have one recorded yet.
- Håvar has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for William.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Håvar doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
How each name got here
Håvar
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #507 among boys in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2010
Highest recorded position: #253 among boys in Norway, in 1977 (recorded 1964–2010).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2010
Most recently recorded at #501 among boys in Norway, in 2010.
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