Welsh boy name
Gwilym Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Gwilym means resolute protector. The Welsh form of William, from Germanic words meaning will and helmet
Gwilym is the Welsh form of William, coming from the Germanic elements wil, meaning will, and helm, meaning helmet or protection. It was widely used in medieval Wales and survives as a traditional name. The most celebrated bearer is the poet Dafydd ap Gwilym, whose patronymic includes it. The name has a distinctive, rounded sound that is easy to say once the gw- is mastered. Wil and Gwil are common short forms. It offers an old Welsh name that matches the familiar William.
Variants of Gwilym
GwillymWilGwil
Gwilym popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2005 Gwilym ranked #12,064 in the US (5 babies). It is too rare to appear in Irish rankings.
United States (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gwilym mean?
Gwilym means "resolute protector". The Welsh form of William, from Germanic words meaning will and helmet.
How do you pronounce Gwilym?
Gwilym is pronounced GWIL-im.
What is the origin of Gwilym?
Gwilym is of Welsh origin. The Welsh form of William, from Germanic words meaning will and helmet.