Marcus vs William
Marcus 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, Marcus was ranked #150 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Marcus was ranked #90 and William #6 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #93 and William #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #233 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #144 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #176 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Marcus was ranked #232 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Marcus and William over time
Marcus and William appear together in 6 published lists, across 228 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Marcus in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Marcus 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
Marcus and William changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1963 and 2025, ending at #150 and #3.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Norway · Boys, Marcus and William averaged 59.8 places apart, ending at #150 and #3.
- Longest-running competitions
Marcus and William were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 62 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #150 and #3.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Marcus #49 in 2010, William #1 in 2009.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1963–2025
Marcus held the stronger position in 23 of those years, William in 39.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #24 in 2001, William #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marcus #150, William #3.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 62.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #99 in 1972, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marcus #232, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #83 in 2001, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #233, William #27.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1971–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 28.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #49 in 2010, William #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #93, William #11.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 28.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #100 in 2003, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #144, William #64.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1971–2014
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 19.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #78 in 2010, William #3 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Marcus #90, William #6.
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 | Marcus | 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 | 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 #150 (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)); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Marcus and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Marcus 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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
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