The story behind William
From Middle English William, from Anglo-Norman Willame, from Old High German Willahelm, from Proto-Germanic *Wiljahelmaz (> Latin Gulielmus), from Proto-Germanic *wiljô (“will”) + *helmaz (“helmet”), ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European roots *welh₁- (“to choose, wish, want”) and *ḱel- (“to cover, conceal, save”) respectively. Cognate with Dutch Willem, German Wilhelm, etc.; cognate borrowings outside of Germanic include Guillaume and Guillermo.
Other language forms and explanations (4)
French entry
Borrowed from English William, though ultimately of Anglo-Norman origin. Doublet of Guillaume.
Portuguese entry
Unadapted borrowing from English William. Doublet of Guilherme.
Spanish entry
Unadapted borrowing from English William. Doublet of Guillermo.
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English William, from Middle English William, from Anglo-Norman Willame, from Frankish *Willahelm, from Proto-Germanic *Wiljahelmaz, from *wiljô + *helmaz. Doublet of Guillermo.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈwɪl.i.əm/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈwɪl.jəm/
- French: /wi.ljam/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈwi.li.ɐ̃/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈwi.ljɐ̃/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ˈwi.ljɐm/
- Spanish: /ˈwiljam/
- Spanish: [ˈwi.ljãm]
- Spanish: /ˈwiljan/
- Spanish: [ˈwi.ljãn]
- Spanish: /ˈwɪliəm/
- Spanish: [ˈwɪliəm]
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈwiljam/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈwil.jɐm]
Popularity
William ranked #13115 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to William
Wilyam
a male given name from English, equivalent to English William
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anselm
From Proto-Germanic *ansuz (“god”) + Old High German hëlm (“helmet”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- same syllable count
- similar length
Bertram
From Proto-Germanic *berhtaz (“bright”) + *hrabnaz (“raven”). a male given name from the Germanic languages, equivalent to English Bertram
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ingram
From a Middle English given name, from Proto-Germanic *Ingwaz (“a Germanic god”) + *hrabnaz (“raven”). The places are named after persons with the surname.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- same syllable count
- similar length
Viliam
Derived from English William.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- same syllable count
- similar length
Wilhelm
Borrowed from German Wilhelm. Doublet of William. Borrowed from German Wilhelm, from Old High German Willahelm. From German Wilhelm.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for William
Adalbertas
Learned borrowing from Latin Adalbertus, from Proto-West Germanic *Aþalaberht, from Proto-Germanic *Aþalaberhtaz. Compare German Adalbert and Latvian Adalberts.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adamu
Borrowed from English Adam.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends U
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adela
Latinate form of French Adèle, short form of Germanic compound names beginning with Proto-Germanic *aþalaz (“noble”). Compare Old English æþele, English athel. Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for William
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abelard
From French Abélard, an extension of the Abel with an Germanic suffix -(h)ard. Possibly also regarded a variant of the German Eberhard "boar" + "hard", equivalent to English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length