Boy · Germanic (via Norman French) · International
William
WilliamSay it WIL-yum
- Meaning today
- Resolute protector, strong-willed warrior
- Original meaning
- "Germanic wil, "will, desire", and helm, "helmet, protection"" Online Etymology Dictionary
- Say it
- WIL-yum
- Other spellings
- Wilhelm, Guillaume
William
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William meaning
William is an international boy's name of Germanic origin (via Norman French).
Germanic wil, "will, desire", and helm, "helmet, protection"
Also used to mean: resolute protector, strong-willed warrior
William came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. The Online Etymology Dictionary traces it through Old North French Willaume, the Norman form of French Guillaume, to a Germanic compound of willio, 'will' or 'desire', and helma, 'helmet' or 'protective covering'; German has the same name as Wilhelm. Baby-name lists give 'resolute protector', a fair reading of will plus helmet. Famous bearers include William Shakespeare and Prince William; Liam, Will and Bill are its short forms. It is said WIL-yum.
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com) · entry William · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, William · Online Etymology Dictionary, Wilhelm · Wikipedia, William the Conqueror
Famous namesakes
- William the Conqueror, king of England
- William Shakespeare, English playwright
Popularity abroad
- #9 United States, boys 2025 (up 1 from 10 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #25 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
William · Wilhelm · Guillaume