Raymond vs William
Raymond 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 2008, Raymond was ranked #487 and William #8 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1993, Raymond was ranked #100 and William #18 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Raymond was ranked #545 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, Raymond was ranked #96 and William #28 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Raymond was ranked #395 and William #58 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Raymond was ranked #509 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Raymond and William over time
Raymond and William appear together in 6 published lists, across 244 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Raymond in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1991, William moved ahead of Raymond in Norway · Boys — #102 and #151 the year before became #174 and #110.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Raymond and William changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2008, ending at #487 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Raymond and William averaged 27.3 places apart, ending at #96 and #28.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Norway · Boys, William rose about as far as Raymond fell — from #265 and #277 in 1945 to #487 and #8 in 2008.
- Longest-running competitions
Raymond and William were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 37 years, from 1952 to 1991, ending at #96 and #28.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Raymond #17 in 1952, William #12 in 1952.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1945–2008
Raymond held the stronger position in 40 of those years, William in 22.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #60 in 1978, William #8 in 2008.
The order changed in 1991: William moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #102 and #151; by 1991 that had become #174 and #110.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Raymond #487, William #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Raymond held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 61.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #29 in 1969, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Raymond #509, William #73.
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1993
Raymond held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 38.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #28 in 1955, William #11 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Raymond #100, William #18.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys37 shared years, 1952–1991
Raymond held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 37.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #17 in 1952, William #12 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Raymond #96, William #28.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Raymond held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #312 in 1996, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Raymond #545, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2023
Raymond held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 17.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #143 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Raymond #395, William #58.
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 | Raymond | 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, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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)); Raymond does not have one recorded yet.
- Raymond and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Raymond doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Raymond
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #265 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1991
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 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