Simon vs William
Simon 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, Simon was ranked #159 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Simon was ranked #83 and William #14 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Simon was ranked #94 and William #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Simon was ranked #524 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Simon was ranked #535 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Simon was ranked #311 and William #67 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Simon was ranked #244 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Simon and William over time
Simon and William appear together in 6 published lists, across 279 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Simon in 0.
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.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Simon 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Norway · Boys, William moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2002 as Simon fell out of it to #51, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2002, William moved ahead of Simon in Norway · Boys — #38 and #40 the year before became #51 and #34.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Simon and William changed places 13 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #159 and #3.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Simon and William averaged 30.2 places apart, ending at #94 and #18.
- Longest-running competitions
Simon and William were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1955 to 1997, ending at #94 and #18.
List by list
Norway · Boys78 shared years, 1945–2025
Simon held the stronger position in 39 of those years, William in 39.
Highest recorded here: Simon #35 in 1992, William #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 2002: William moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #38 and #40; by 2002 that had become #51 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Simon #159, William #3.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Simon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 62.
Highest recorded here: Simon #46 in 1987, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Simon #244, William #73.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Simon held the stronger position in 16 of those years, William in 28.
Highest recorded here: Simon #12 in 1976, William #11 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Simon #83, William #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1955–1997
Simon held the stronger position in 19 of those years, William in 24.
Highest recorded here: Simon #24 in 1970, William #15 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Simon #94, William #18.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Simon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Simon #87 in 1996, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Simon #524, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Simon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 23.
Highest recorded here: Simon #95 in 2000, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Simon #311, William #67.
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 | Simon | 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 #159 (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)); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Simon and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Simon 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
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 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