John vs William

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

John

Boy #21 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"Yahweh is gracious"

Origin: Hebrew

English Irish American Christian Jewish

✓ All Clear

Boy #10 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"resolute protector, strong-willed guardian"

Origin: Germanic

English German French

✓ All Clear

John Rank #21

William Rank #10

William is more popular, ranked #10 vs #21 for John.

Is John or William more popular?

William is more popular, ranked #10 compared to John at #21 in the United States.

What do John and William mean?

John means "Yahweh is gracious" (Hebrew origin). William means "resolute protector, strong-willed guardian" (Germanic origin).

Are John and William boy or girl names?

John is primarily a boy name. William is primarily a boy name.