William Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity

What Does the Name William Mean?

William is a name that has long been in popularity. It originated in England and has been around for about 1,000 years. The name translates to “strong-willed warrior” or “resolute protector.” The name Wilhelm is Old German in origin.
William the Conqueror brought it to England during the Conquest, and it quickly gained popularity. Numerous William-named rulers have ruled the British Isles and other regions since that time. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is part of the current British royal family. He is going to be Britain’s king in the future.

Origin: The name Wilhelm originates from the Germanic root Wilhelm, which consists of the words wil (will or desire) and helm (protection or helmet).
Gender: The name William has historically been used in manly ways. Wilhelmina, Wilma, and Billie are examples of feminine variants.
Pronunciation: WIL-lee-yahm

William is a name that has a lengthy history. It is well-liked not only in English-speaking nations but also in other cultures.

William Name Popularity History

Since 1900, William has ranked among the top 20 names for males in the US. For the first seventy-five years that the Social Security Administration was gathering statistics, it was among the top ten. It then began to gain popularity once again after that. It ranked as the sixth most popular boy’s name in the US in 2020.

Name William Across Different Languages

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

Popular Nicknames

  • Billy: Another spelling of Billie
  • Guy: short for Guillaume
  • Gill: short for Guillaume
  • Liam
  • Will
  • Willy
  • Willie
  • Bill

Famous Williams:

Ashley Williams: American actress
Hank Williams: American singer and musician
Pharrell Williams: significant personality in the entertainment industry
John Williams: American conductor, composer, and pianist
William Shakespeare: regarded as the best writer in the English language, is an English playwright.

Famous Wills:

Will Arnett: Actor, comedian, voice actor, and producer
Anneke Wills: American actress
Mark Wills: English music artist
will.i.am: Rapper, singer, composer, and record producer from America

Popular Bills, Billy's, and Billie's

Bill Cosby: American comedian, actor, representative, and media personality 
Bill Murray: Writer, comedian, and actor from America
Billy Corgan: American singer-songwriter, musician, and promoter of professional wrestling
Billy Connolly/Billy Idol: English musician, songwriter, singer, and actor
Billy Joel: American musician
Billie Eilish: Discovered at the age of 14, the American singer and songwriter
Billie Joe Armstrong: American musician
Billie Dove: American actress

William the Conqueror

William I, sometimes referred to as William the Conqueror, was a strong and significant king who influenced the development of English history. His greatest-known achievement is his triumph at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, which cleared the way for both his and the Norman conquests of England. During William’s reign, the Domesday Book, an exhaustive inventory of England’s resources, and the advent of feudalism were two major developments that profoundly altered English society. William’s reign was marked by stability and an establishment of power despite several difficulties, like as invasions and uprisings. Long after he passed away, his legacy persisted because of the Norman effect on the English language, culture, and government. All things considered, the reign of William the Conqueror was a turning point in English history that influenced the course of the country for generations to come.

William, Prince of Wales

On June 21, 1982, William—also referred to as the Prince of Wales—was born. He is expected to succeed his father, King Charles III, as the king. Diana the Princess of Wales was his mother. William was born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, his grandmother. For his education, he attended Eton College, Ludgrove School, and Wetherby School. He later met Catherine Middleton, his wife, while pursuing his geography degree at the University of St Andrews. William trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst after graduating from college, and he later played for the Blues and Royals. He also received training at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, and in 2009 he became a member of the RAF Search and Rescue Force. He was employed by East Anglian Air Ambulance as a full-time pilot from 2015 to 2017.

Other Boys Royal Names:

  • Alexander
  • Archie
  • Baron
  • Christian
  • David
  • Edward
  • Harry
  • Jack
  • Michael
  • Muhammad
  • John
  • Wesley