William

Meaning of William

William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior."

William has Germanic roots — browse every Germanic baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of William

William has held fairly steady, sitting around #9 in 2025 after peaking at #3 in 2011.

Notable people named William

• Prince William
  Prince of Wales
• William Shakespeare
  English playwright and poet
• William Shatner
  Actor, Star Trek's Captain Kirk
• William Faulkner
  American novelist
• Will.i.am
  Musician, Black Eyed Peas

More Germanic names

Questions about the name William

What does the name William mean?

William means william means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior.", and it comes from Germanic origins.

Is William a boy's or a girl's name?

William is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name William?

In 2025, William ranked #9 for boys, up from #10 the year before.

When was William most popular?

William peaked at #3 in 2011.