William

This perennially popular name comes from the Germanic words wil meaning "will; desire" and helm meaning "helmet; protection." Thus, the name William translates roughly to "resolute protector." Although it has never held the #1 spot in baby names in the US, William has demonstrated more staying power than any of the other names mentioned here, having never dropped below the top 20 in the 133 years on record with the Social Security Administration.

For a look at how the top 10 baby names of 2013 have shifted in popularity since 1880, check out our blog post.