William

The first name William, a male name, carries the meaning "the resolute protector". It is the English variant of the old German name Wilhelm and is composed of the Old High German words willio for "will, determination" and helm for "helmet, protection".

What does the name William mean?

William, a male first name, means "the resolute protector". This name is the English form of the traditional German name Wilhelm and originates from the Old High German terms willio, meaning "will, determination", and helm, meaning "helmet, protection". William has been known since the early Middle Ages and is one of the most common English first names. The name's popularity may be attributed to William the Conqueror, who was the first Norman King of England in the 11th century. Among the most famous bearers of the name are the English playwright William Shakespeare (1564–1616) and the British heir Prince William. William is not only common in Great Britain but also ranks among the most popular male first names in other English-speaking countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, William is also very popular in Scandinavia, where it has frequently appeared at the top of name lists in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in recent years. With approximately 6.3 million bearers, William is one of the most common boy names worldwide. Popular short forms of the name include Bill, Liam, Will, Willi, and Willy.

Where does the name William come from?

The name William has an Old High German origin and means "the resolute protector".

How do you pronounce William?

The pronunciation of William is two syllables and harmonious in German. It is usually rendered as "Wil-liam" [ˈvɪli̯am]. The name begins with a soft W sound that transitions directly into a short I. The middle syllable receives a slight emphasis, while the ending "-liam" sounds soft and rounded, giving the name a harmonious note. William radiates a classic dignity and conveys a sense of international breadth and stable permanence.

When is the name day of William?

William, as a variant of Wilhelm, is celebrated on January 1, January 10, February 10, March 28, May 28, June 8, June 25, June 27, June 30, and July 5.

Popularity

In Germany, William is one of the most sought-after first names. Currently, it ranks 245th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best placement was in 1931 at rank 126. In the last ten years, William has been given as a first name approximately 3,100 times, placing it 233rd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 254th.

Nicknames & pet names

Bill / Billy / Dell / Liam / Wili / Will / Wille / Willi / Willo / Wills / Willy

Similar first names

Famous people

• Louis William Tomlinson (singer from 'One Direction')
• Matthew William Joyce (Australian film director)
• Will Grayson (main character from Will & Will (John Green))
• William (Prince of England)
• William 'Will' Graham (character from Hannibal)
• William 'Will' Hewitt (character from the Nell Sweeney book series)
• William Accambray (French handball player)
• William Adolphe Bouguereau (French painter, classicist and realist)
• William Antony 'Tony' Parker (basketball player)
• William Arthur Weasley (Bill) (oldest Weasley son in Harry Potter)
• William Ashmore (British cricketer)
• William B. McLean (American physicist)
• William Beckett (American singer of the band 'The Academy is...')
• William Bradley Pitt (American actor)
• William Burnside (English mathematician)
• William Cleghorn (English philosopher)
• William Eerdmans (American publisher)
• William Ernest Cooke (Australian astronomer)
• William Fichtner (actor)
• William Fitzsimmons (American singer-songwriter)