Julian vs William
Julian 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, Julian was ranked #54 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Julian was ranked #87 and William #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Julian was ranked #314 and William #25 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1974, Julian was ranked #98 and William #34 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Julian was ranked #348 and William #58 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Julian was ranked #234 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Julian was ranked #348 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Julian and William over time
Julian and William appear together in 3 published lists, across 144 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Julian in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Julian in 1. 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Julian and William were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #314 and #25.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Julian #26 in 2011, William #1 in 2012.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025
Julian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 59.
Highest recorded here: Julian #129 in 1970, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julian #348, William #73.
Norway · Boys55 shared years, 1967–2025
Julian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 55.
Highest recorded here: Julian #26 in 2011, William #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julian #54, William #3.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Julian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 30.
Highest recorded here: Julian #267 in 2022, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julian #314, William #25.
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 | Julian | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #54 (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)); Julian does not have one recorded yet.
- Julian and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Julian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Julian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #191 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1967–2025
Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in Norway, in 2011 (recorded 1967–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #314 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #25 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys