The baby name Gwilym is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced IPA: /ˈɡwɪləm/; respelling: "GWIL-əm" (often anglicized "GWIL-im").
Gwilym is Welsh in Origin.
The baby name Gwilym is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced IPA: /ˈɡwɪləm/; respelling: "GWIL-əm" (often anglicized "GWIL-im").
Gwilym is Welsh in Origin.
Gwilym is the standard Welsh form of William, from Germanic Wilhelm (wil “will, desire” + helm “helmet, protection”), yielding the meaning “resolute protector.” The name entered Wales via Anglo-Norman and ecclesiastical channels in the Middle Ages, adapting through Latin Guilielmus to the native phonology as Gwilym (pronounced GWIL-im). It appears frequently in medieval Welsh records and bardic poetry; the famed 14th‑century poet Dafydd ap Gwilym bears it as a patronym, attesting to its currency. The name also occurs as a Welsh surname in forms like ap Gwilym.
Variants and cognates include William (English), Guillaume (French), Wilhelm (German), Guillermo (Spanish), Guglielmo (Italian), Uilleam (Scottish Gaelic), and the Irish short forms Uilliam/Liam. Welsh pet forms are Gwil and Gwill. Usage remained strongest in Wales, waning in the 20th century but enjoying periodic revivals alongside renewed interest in Welsh-language heritage.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JM | Boys | 0 | #293 | 1 | 6,876 |
| CZ | Boys | 0 | #304 | 2 | 6,530 |
| CL | 0 | #434 | 1 | 6,867 | |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #557 | 1 | 12,905 |
| IR | Boys | 0 | #564 | 2 | 10,162 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #739 | 1 | 17,960 |
| United States | Boys | 2005 | #846 | 5 | 7,175 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,270 | 3 | 25,619 |
Gwilym is popular in 8 countries — most recent births per country:
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