Lewis vs William
Lewis 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Lewis was ranked #100 and William #6 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Lewis was ranked #216 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Lewis was ranked #28 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Lewis was ranked #136 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Lewis was ranked #432 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Lewis and William over time
Lewis and William appear together in 3 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lewis 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, Lewis 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lewis and William changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #136 and #64.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Lewis and William averaged 44.5 places apart, ending at #216 and #27.
- Longest-running competitions
Lewis and William were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 42 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #432 and #73.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1969–2025
Lewis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 42.
Highest recorded here: Lewis #125 in 2017, William #8 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lewis #432, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lewis held the stronger position in 1 of those years, William in 28.
Highest recorded here: Lewis #10 in 2001, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lewis #216, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Lewis held the stronger position in 9 of those years, William in 19.
Highest recorded here: Lewis #20 in 2008, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lewis #136, 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 | Lewis | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (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)); Lewis does not have one recorded yet.
- Lewis and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Lewis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Lewis
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #291 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — 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: #10 among boys in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 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