Morten vs William
Morten 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, Morten was ranked #214 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2015, Morten was ranked #4747 and William #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Morten and William over time
Morten and William appear together in 2 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Morten reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1999, William moved ahead of Morten in Norway · Boys — #49 and #53 the year before became #49 and #48.
- Mirrored each other
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, William rose about as far as Morten fell — from #107 and #277 in 1945 to #214 and #3 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Morten and William were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #214 and #3.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Morten held the stronger position in 54 of those years, William in 27.
Highest recorded here: Morten #3 in 1973, William #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1999: William moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #49 and #53; by 1999 that had become #49 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Morten #214, William #3.
England and Wales · Boys11 shared years, 1997–2015
Morten held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 11.
Highest recorded here: Morten #2189 in 2003, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Morten #4747, William #8.
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 | Morten | 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, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #214 (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) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Morten does not have one recorded yet.
- Morten and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Morten doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
Morten
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #107 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 1973 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #214 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