Tommy vs William
Tommy 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 2024, Tommy was ranked #503 and William #4 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Tommy was ranked #97 and William #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Tommy was ranked #68 and William #14 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Tommy was ranked #20 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Tommy was ranked #20 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Tommy was ranked #39 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Tommy was ranked #27 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Tommy and William over time
Tommy and William appear together in 4 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tommy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, Tommy 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Tommy moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2020 as William fell out of it to #51, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2018, Tommy moved ahead of William in Northern Ireland · Boys — #95 and #50 the year before became #58 and #60.
- Mirrored each other
Over 22 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Tommy rose about as far as William fell — from #277 and #29 in 1999 to #20 and #64 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Tommy and William were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 80 years, from 1945 to 2024, ending at #503 and #4.
List by list
Norway · Boys80 shared years, 1945–2024
Tommy held the stronger position in 47 of those years, William in 33.
Highest recorded here: Tommy #11 in 1976, William #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1996: William moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #69 and #86; by 1996 that had become #79 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Tommy #503, William #4.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1980–2025
Tommy held the stronger position in 6 of those years, William in 37.
Highest recorded here: Tommy #21 in 2023, William #14 in 1980.
The order changed in 2020: Tommy moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #53 and #50; by 2020 that had become #36 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Tommy #27, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Tommy held the stronger position in 2 of those years, William in 27.
Highest recorded here: Tommy #22 in 2020, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Tommy #39, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1999–2024
Tommy held the stronger position in 7 of those years, William in 15.
Highest recorded here: Tommy #11 in 2023, William #27 in 2000.
The order changed in 2018: Tommy moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #95 and #50; by 2018 that had become #58 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Tommy #20, 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 | Tommy | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #27 (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)); Tommy does not have one recorded yet.
- Tommy and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Tommy 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
Tommy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #268 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1999–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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