William Name Meaning & Origin
William
Origin of the name William:
From the Old Norman French Willaume, which is derived from the Old High German Willehelm, a compound name composed from the elements willeo (will, determination) and helm (protection, helmet): hence, "resolute protector." William is the most popular name introduced to England by the Normans. It was borne by William the Conqueror (1027? - 87), who invaded England and defeated Harald at the Battle of Hastings, and by three other kings of England.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
Related Names:
Bill, Billy, Guillaume, Guillermo, Liam, Wilhelm, Will, Willem, Willie, Billie, Willy
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US Popularity of William Over Time

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Name Lists Featuring William
- Danish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Denmark 2014
- Swedish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Sweden 2014
- Norwegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Norway 2014
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (New South Wales) 2014
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Victoria) 2014
- New Zealand Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in New Zealand 2014
- Belgian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Belgium (Flanders) 2014
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in the Republic of Ireland 2014
- English and Welsh Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in England and Wales (2013)
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Northern Ireland 2014
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Quebec) 2014
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (British Columbia) 2014
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Alberta) 2014
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Saskatchewan) 2014
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (New South Wales), 2010
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Victoria), 2010
- New Zealand Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in New Zealand, 2010
- Belgian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Belgium (Flanders), 2010
- Danish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Denmark, 2010
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Ireland, 2010
- Norwegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Norway, 2010
- Scottish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Scotland, 2011
- Swedish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Sweden, 2010
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Alberta), 2010
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (British Columbia), 2010
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Quebec), 2010
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Saskatchewan), 2010
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Quebec) for 2013
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (British Columbia) for 2013
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Alberta) for 2013
- English and Welsh Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in England and Wales
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Quebec) for 2012
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (British Columbia) for 2012
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Alberta) for 2012
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Saskatchewan) for 2012
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Nova Scotia) 2014
- English Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in England
- Welsh Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Wales
- Scottish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Scotland for 2012
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Northern Ireland for 2012
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in the Republic of Ireland for 2012
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (New South Wales) for 2012
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Victoria) for 2012
- New Zealand Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in New Zealand for 2012
- Danish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Denmark for 2012.
- Swedish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Sweden for 2012
- Norwegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Norway for 2012
- Portuguese Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Portugal 2012
- Taswegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Tasmania 2014
- French Boys Names: Most Popular Boys Names in France
- Scottish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Scotland
- Danish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Denmark
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in the Republic of Ireland
- Swedish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Sweden
- Norwegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Norway
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Ontario)
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Quebec)
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Alberta)
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (British Columbia)
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Nova Scotia)
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Saskatchewan)
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (New South Wales)
- Taswegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Tasmania
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Victoria)
- New Zealand Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in New Zealand
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Western)
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Northern)
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Southern)
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Queensland)
- English Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in England
Contribute your knowledge to the name William
- Comments and insights on the name William
- Personal experiences with the name William
- Nicknames for William
Bill
Billy
Will
Willie
Willy
Wills
Willis
Liam
Guy (From Guillaume)
Wim
Willi
Wiley
LioWillamina
Wimble
Wilby
Wiliby- Meanings and history of the name William
Origin: English
Meaning: Strong-willed Warrior, Warrior of God- Famous real-life people named William
Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge
William Henry Harrison, 9th president of the USA
William McKinley, 25th President of the USA
William Howard Taft, 27th President of the USA
Bill Clinton, 42nd president of the USA
William Faulkner, writer
Sir William Golding, British novelist, poet, and playwright. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983 and knighted in 1988.
Billy Corgan Musician "The Smashing Pumpkins"
William Bradley "Brad" Pitt, actor
Bill Gates, businessman
Bill Paxton, actor
William H. Macy, actor
William Hurt, actor
William Shatner, actor who flirts with Misha Collins
Will Ferrell, comedian
William G. Morgan, inventor of volleyball
William Frawley, actor
Will Smith, rapper and actor
William Shakespeare, playwright and poet
William Butler (W.B.) Yeats, Irish poet and laureate of the 1923 Nobel Prize in Literature
William Carlos Williams, modernist poet
Bill Cosby, comedian and actor
Billy Ray Cyrus, actor and country singer
Bill Hader, comedian
William "Smokey" Robinson, singer and songwriter
Billy Crudup, actor
Will Arnett, actor and comedian
William Haynes, YouTuber on SourceFed and SourceFedNerd
William "Will" Blair, American singer
William Moseley, British Actor
William Beckett, former lead singer of American pop-punk band The Academy Is...
Wil Wheaton, actor, writer, most awesome geek in history of the earth
William Brent, aka Billy Unger, American actor
William Karlsson, professional ice hockey player (Vegas Golden Knights)
William Wolf Howey (b. 2009), son of American television actress Sarah Shahi- William in song, story & screen
Will Traynor from "Me Before You" book by Jojo Moyes
"Free Willy" (movie)
Fathers Day Images
"Good Will Hunting" (movie)
Mr. Bill from "Saturday Night Live"
William "Bill" Weasley from "Harry Potter"
Willy Wonka
Will Truman of "Will and Grace"
William Tell, legendary archer, and the "William Tell Overture" from Rossini's opera
"William, it Was Really Nothing" by the Smiths
+ William 'Will' Turner from the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' trilogy
+ Bill Compton, from Charlaine Harris's series 'The Southern Vampire Mysteries'
Billy Costigan, Leonardo DiCaprio's character in The Departed
Billy Elliot, excellent movie
William the Bloody aka Spike from the TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
Commander William Ryker (Star Trek: Next Generation)
"(Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey", JFK's favorite popular song
"Where Have you Gone, Billy Boy, Billy Boy"
Detective William Murdoch, forward thinking central character in the Murdoch Mystery novels/TV series 'Murdoch Mysteries'
Bill the Frog from "Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll
William Cutting AKA Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York (Film/Book)
Bill the Cat from Bloom County
William "Will" Herondale from Cassandra Clare's trilogy "The Infernal Devices"
William Mason, Second Footman at Downton Abbey
William Merriman from the American Girl Felicity books
William "Liam" Henstridge in the popular TV show "The Royals"
William Clayton from the CW show Arrow