The nameWilliam
William is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning "resolute protector". Brought to England by William the Conqueror, it has been one of the great English names for almost a thousand years.
- Boy's name
- Germanic
- Feast day
Meaning
William comes from the Germanic Willahelm, built from wil, "will, desire", and helm, "helmet, protection". It is usually rendered as "resolute protector".
Origin
Germanic, through Norman French. The Normans' Guillaume became William in England after the conquest of 1066.
History
William the Conqueror made the name one of the most common in medieval England, and four kings of England have borne it. Shakespeare, William Wordsworth and William Blake kept it in the spotlight. It has never really left fashion: in the United States it has been in the top 20 for most years since records began, and Prince William, born in 1982, gave it a new royal push. Bill, Will, Liam and Billy are all short forms.
William in other languages
William is Guillaume in French, Wilhelm in German, Willem in Dutch, Guglielmo in Italian and Guillermo in Spanish. Its Irish short form Liam became a name in its own right.
Nicknames for William
The most common nicknames for William: Will, Bill, Billy and Liam.
Did you know?
- Bill, the classic short form of William, comes from Will by a change of first letter, as Bob comes from Rob.
- William was the most popular boys' name in Norway every year from 2012 to 2016.
- The painter J. M. W. Turner left nearly 300 paintings and thousands of drawings to the British nation.
Famous people named William
- William the Conqueror, King of England
- William Shakespeare, playwright
- William Wordsworth, poet
- William, Prince of Wales
Popularity of the name William
William in the United States
William was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 592,615 births over the decade, 14% of all recorded babies named William. Half of all babies named William in the United States were born before 1951, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 11,499 births a year on average, against 15,033 in the five years before.
William in the United Kingdom
William was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 52,835 births over the decade, 43% of all recorded babies named William. Half of all babies named William in the United Kingdom were born before 2008, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,827 births a year on average, against 3,239 in the five years before.
William in Ireland
William in France
William in Belgium
William in Switzerland
William in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for William
Names from the same generation as William, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named William? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare William with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of William side by side with the name of your choice.
William in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name William mean?
William comes from the Germanic Willahelm, built from wil, "will, desire", and helm, "helmet, protection". It is usually rendered as "resolute protector".
What is the origin of the name William?
Germanic, through Norman French. The Normans' Guillaume became William in England after the conquest of 1066.
Is William a girl's or a boy's name?
William is a boy's name.
How popular is the name William?
In 2024, William was the 10th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 10,596 births.
What are the variants of the name William?
Variants and related names of William include Billie, Billy, Guillaume, Guillem, Liam, Liyam, Lyam and Williams.
What are good sibling names for William?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Emma, Elizabeth, Caroline and Abigail for a sister, Charles, Samuel, James and Alexander for a brother.
What are common nicknames for William?
The most common nicknames for William are Will, Bill, Billy and Liam.
Who are famous people named William?
William the Conqueror, King of England; William Shakespeare, playwright; William Wordsworth, poet; William, Prince of Wales.