William Name Meaning

What Does William Mean?

The name William is a timeless classic with English roots that date back almost a thousand years, yet is still popular today. It means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior" and comes from Wilhelm, of Old German origin. After the name was introduced to England by William the Conqueror at the time of the Conquest, it gained status as a fashionable moniker.

Several kings named William have ruled in the British Isles, as well as in other empires. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is a current member of the British royal family and will be the eventual heir to the British throne.

How Popular is the Name William?

William is a classic name that has endured for centuries. Not only is it popular in the English language, but it has its equivalent in other traditions as well.

Since 1900, the name William has consistently ranked in the top 20 names for boys in the United States. It has continually been a popular boy name, enjoying Top 10 status during the first 75 years of data collection by the Social Security Administration.

William started slowly climbing the charts again after that and is currently ranked No. 5 in popularity in the United States in 2020.

Name Variations

There are many variations of the name William in other languages. These include:

• Guillaume (French)
• Willum (Scots)
• Willian, Guilherme (Portuguese)
• Viliamu (Samoan)
• Guillermo (Spanish)
• Liam (Irish)
• Wilhem (German, Polish, Swedish)
• Willem, Wilhelmus (Dutch, Low German)
• Wallam (Persian)
• Vilyam, Vilyim (Turkish)

Similar Names

Other boy names with English royal traditions:

• Charles
• Arthur
• George
• Phillip
• Alexander
• Louis
• Henry
• Edward
• Richard

Other boy names starting with W:

• Walter
• Wesley
• Walker
• Wade
• Wilson
• Winston
• Warren
• Wyatt
• Wilmer

Common Nicknames

Common nicknames for William include:

• Will
• Willy
• Willie
• Bill
• Billy
• Guy
• Gill
• Liam

Suggested Sibling Names

• Elizabeth
• Catherine
• Beatrice
• Eloise
• James
• Oliver
• Edward

Famous People Named William

Notable Williams range from British kings to American presidents and Hollywood film and television stars. The popularity of the name William in the English language likely began with the invasion of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, who became the first Norman monarch of England. Now, famous pop-culture icons named William use their nicknames professionally, including Billy Idol and Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Famous Williams and Wills:

• William Shakespeare, English playwright known as the greatest writer in the English language
• William Shatner, actor/director most well-known for role as Captain Kirk in the "Star Trek" franchise
• Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and heir to the British throne
• Will Arnett, Canadian-American actor and Emmy nominee for "Arrested Development," "Bojack Horseman," and "30 Rock"
• will.i.am, American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer

Famous Bills, Billy's, and Billie's

• President Bill Clinton, served as the 42nd president of the United States
• Bill Murray, American actor, comedian, and writer
• Bill Nye the Science Guy, American mechanical engineer, science communicator, and television presenter
• Billy Idol, English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor
• Billy Graham, prominent American evangelist and evangelical Christian figure
• Billy Ocean, British/Trinidadian recording artist of the 1970s and 1980s
• Billie Eilish, American singer and songwriter discovered at age 14
• Billie Joe Armstrong, American musician and lead vocalist of the rock band Green Day
• Billie Holiday, American jazz singer who influenced the genre