William

William is a popular name of Old German origin that means "strong-willed warrior" or "desiring peace". It was introduced to England by the Norman conquerors in the 11th century and quickly became a popular name among royalty and aristocracy.

Trends in the Popularity of the Name William

William has been a consistently popular name for several centuries. In the United States, it has been a top 10 name for boys for much of the 20th century and continues to be a popular choice for parents today. According to the Social Security Administration, William was the sixth most popular name for boys born in the year 2020.

Famous People Named William

• William Shakespeare, the famous English playwright and poet
• William the Conqueror, the Norman King of England who conquered England in the 11th century
• William Wallace, the Scottish knight and warrior who led the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence
• William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the United States
• William Faulkner, the American novelist and Nobel Prize winner
• William Wordsworth, the English poet and one of the leaders of the Romantic Age

Famous Characters Named William

• William Wallace, the Scottish knight played by Mel Gibson in the film Braveheart
• William "Will" Turner, the blacksmith-turned-pirate in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series
• William "Bill" Adama, the main character in the TV series Battlestar Galactica
• William "Bill" S. Preston, Esq., one half of the time-traveling duo in the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

William rank report (US ranking for newborns 2021)

• Rank 2. Noah
• Rank 3. Oliver
• Rank 4. Elijah
• Rank 5. James
• Rank 6. William
• Rank 7. Benjamin
• Rank 8. Lucas
• Rank 9. Henry
• Rank 10. Theodore

Nicknames for William

Will	wil	Shortened version of the name
Bill	bil	Common nickname for William
Willy	wih-lee	A more informal and playful nickname
Liam	lee-um	A popular Irish variation of the name William
Wim	wim	A Dutch nickname for William
Wills	wils	A shortened version of the name used by close friends and family
Billy	bil-ee	A more casual and friendly nickname for William.

Famous people named William

William Shakespeare	playwright and poet	considered one of the greatest writers in the English language
William Wallace	Scottish knight and freedom fighter	led a rebellion against English rule in the late 13th century
William the Conqueror	King of England	led the Norman conquest of England in 1066
William Wordsworth	poet	a major figure in the Romantic movement in English literature
William Faulkner	writer	known for his novels set in the American South and his experimental writing style
William McKinley	25th President of the United States	served from 1897 until his assassination in 1901
William Howard Taft	27th President of the United States	also served as Chief Justice of the United States
William Henry Harrison	9th President of the United States	died after only 31 days in office, the shortest tenure of any U.S. President
William Penn	founder of Pennsylvania	a Quaker who established the colony as a haven for religious freedom
William James	philosopher and psychologist	one of the most influential thinkers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Fictional character called William from pop culture

William Turner	Pirates of the Caribbean franchise	Portrayed by Orlando Bloom, William Turner is a blacksmith who becomes a pirate in order to save the love of his life, Elizabeth Swann.
William Wallace	Braveheart	Portrayed by Mel Gibson, William Wallace is a Scottish warrior who leads a rebellion against the English.
William Shakespeare	Writer and playwright	Considered one of the greatest writers in the English language, William Shakespeare wrote plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth.
William Adama	Battlestar Galactica	Portrayed by Edward James Olmos, William Adama is the commander of the Battlestar Galactica in the sci-fi TV series.
William 'Billy' Cranston	Power Rangers	Portrayed by David Yost, Billy Cranston is the Blue Ranger in the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series.
William 'Will' Byers	Stranger Things	Portrayed by Noah Schnapp, Will Byers is a main character in the sci-fi TV series who goes missing in the first season.
William 'Will' Hunting	Good Will Hunting	Portrayed by Matt Damon, Will Hunting is a janitor at MIT who is a genius in mathematics in the drama film.
William 'Will' Turner Jr.	Good Will Hunting	Portrayed by Billy Zane, Will Turner is a wealthy businessman and the primary antagonist in the drama film Titanic.
William 'Will' Schuester	Glee	Portrayed by Matthew Morrison, Will Schuester is a high school Spanish teacher and the director of the school's glee club in the musical TV series.

Frequently Asked Questions about William

What is the origin of the name William?	The name William is of Germanic origin and means "resolute protector".
Is William a popular name?	Yes, William is a very popular name worldwide. It has been in the top 10 most popular names for boys in the United States for over a century.
What are some famous people with the name William?	Some famous people with the name William include William Shakespeare, William Wallace, William Faulkner, and Prince William of Wales.
Are there any variations of the name William?	Yes, some variations of the name William include Will, Bill, Liam, and Willem.
What is the meaning behind the nickname "Bill" for William?	The nickname "Bill" for William comes from the Old French word "belle" which means "handsome".
Is William a common name for royalty?	Yes, William has been a popular name for royalty throughout history. There have been several kings of England named William, as well as many other European monarchs.