The nameGuillaume
Guillaume is the French form of William, "will and protection". It was one of the favourite boys' names in France in the 1980s.
- Boy's name
- Germanic
- Feast day
Meaning
Guillaume comes from the Germanic Willahelm, from wil, "will", and helm, "helmet, protection".
Origin
Germanic, through Frankish. The Germanic W became Gu in French, as in guerre from werra, "war". William and Wilhelm are the same name.
History
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, is Guillaume le Conquérant in French. Very common in the Middle Ages, the name enjoyed a new boom in France in the 1980s.
Guillaume in other languages
Guillaume is the French form of William. It is Wilhelm in German, Willem in Dutch, Guglielmo in Italian, Guillermo in Spanish, Guilherme in Portuguese, Vilhelm in the Nordic countries and Gwilym in Welsh.
Nicknames for Guillaume
The most common nicknames for Guillaume: Will and Willy.
Did you know?
- Guillaume Apollinaire was suspected of stealing the Mona Lisa in 1911 and spent a few days in prison before being cleared.
- Guillaume le Conquérant, William the Conqueror, ordered the Domesday Book, the great survey of England, in 1086.
Famous people named Guillaume
- Guillaume Apollinaire, poet
- Guillaume Canet, actor and director
- Guillaume Dufay, composer
Popularity of the name Guillaume
Guillaume in France
Guillaume was most popular in France in the 1980s, with 83,990 births over the decade, 38% of all recorded babies named Guillaume. Its rise began around 1968, and it peaked in 1984. Half of all babies named Guillaume in France were born before 1985, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 64 births a year on average, against 129 in the five years before.
Guillaume in Belgium
Guillaume was most popular in Belgium in the 2000s, with 2,335 births over the decade, 42% of all recorded babies named Guillaume. Half of all babies named Guillaume in Belgium were born before 2002. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 31 births a year on average, against 61 in the five years before.
Guillaume in Switzerland
Variants and related names
Guillaume in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Guillaume mean?
Guillaume comes from the Germanic Willahelm, from wil, "will", and helm, "helmet, protection".
What is the origin of the name Guillaume?
Germanic, through Frankish. The Germanic W became Gu in French, as in guerre from werra, "war". William and Wilhelm are the same name.
Is Guillaume a girl's or a boy's name?
Guillaume is a boy's name.
What are the variants of the name Guillaume?
Variants and related names of Guillaume include Guillem, Guillemette, Willem and William.
What are common nicknames for Guillaume?
The most common nicknames for Guillaume are Will and Willy.
Who are famous people named Guillaume?
Guillaume Apollinaire, poet; Guillaume Canet, actor and director; Guillaume Dufay, composer.