William - Wiktionary

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:William (name)Wikipedia

Alternative forms

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• Wm. (abbreviation, historical)

Etymology

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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.

Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): /ˈwɪl.i.əm/, /ˈwɪl.jəm/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪliəm

Noun

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William

1. (World War II era, joint US/RAF) radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter W. Synonym: Whiskey

Proper noun

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William (plural Williams)

1. A male given name from the Germanic languages popular since the Norman Conquest.
   • 1605, William Camden, Remains Concerning Britain, John Russell Smith, published 1870, page 98:This name hath been most common in England since King William the Conquerour, insomuch that upon a festival day in the Court of King Henry the Second, when Sir William Saint-John, and Sir William Fitz-Hamon, especial Officers, had commanded that none but of the name of William should dine in the great Chamber with them, they were accompanied with a hundred and twenty Williams.
   • 1629, Thomas Adams, Meditations upon Creed: The Works of Thomas Adams, James Nichol (1862), volume 3, page 212:But we have known Williams and Richards, names not found in sacred story, but familiar to our country, prove as gracious saints as any Safe deliverance, Fight the good fight of faith, or such like,
   • 2004, Christopher Wood, California, Here I Am, TwentyFirst Century Publishers Ltd, →ISBN, pages 29–30:By the same token I should probably have called myself 'Bill'. With a name like William you have choices. Very handy for us chameleons. 'William' is stern and dignified. A little austere and unapproachable. He conquers things. It is what my mother calls me when she is angry with me.
   • 2012 October 3, Rebekah Higgitt, “Why whiggish won't do”, in The Guardian‎[1], →ISSN, archived from the original on 8 December 2022:One was a piece, Two Cheers for the Whig Interpretation of History, by William Cronon, president of the American Historical Association.
   • 2025 September 5, Cade Metz, “Anthropic Agrees to Pay $1.5 Billion to Settle Lawsuit With Book Authors”, in The New York Times‎[2], →ISSN, archived from the original on 5 September 2025:The settlement came after a ruling in June by Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
2. A surname.

Derived terms

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• Fort William
• guillemot
• King William
• King William County
• Mount William
• Prince William County
• Prince William Sound
• William and Mary
• Williamite
• William McKinley
• Williams
• Williamson
• William Tell

Related terms

[edit] variants and pet forms

• Bill
• Billie
• Billy
• Liam
• Will
• Willie
• Wills
• Willy

feminine forms

• Billie
• Minnie
• Wilhelmina
• Williamina
• Willie Mae
• Wilma

surnames

• Fitzwilliam
• Gilham
• Gill
• Gillam
• Gillatt
• Gillet
• Gillett
• Gillham
• Gilliam
• Gilliatt
• Gillott
• Gillum
• Wilcock
• Wilcox
• Wilk
• Wilke
• Wilken
• Wilkens
• Wilkerson
• Wilkes
• Wilkie
• Wilkin
• Wilkins
• Wilkinson
• Wilks
• Will
• Willems
• Willes
• Willet
• Willets
• Willett
• Willetts
• Williams
• Williamson
• Williment
• Willimott
• Willis
• Willison
• Willment
• Willmett
• Willmot
• Willmott
• Willott
• Wills
• Willson
• Wilmot
• Wilmott
• Wilson
• Wyatt

Descendants

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• → Azerbaijani: Uilyam (transliteration)
• → Bengali: উইলিয়াম (uiliẏam)
• ⇒ Cebuano: William
• → Chinese: 威廉 (Wēilián) (transliteration)
• → Finnish: Viljami, Wiljami
• → Hawaiian: Uilama, Wilama, Wiliama
• → Ingrian: Viljam (transliteration)
• → Japanese: ウィリアム (Wiriamu)
• → Korean: 윌리엄 (Willieom) (transliteration)
• → Russian: Уильям (Uilʹjam)
• ⇒ Slovak: Viliam
• → Tagalog: William

Translations

[edit] male given name

Albanian: Gulielm m,, Golem m, Gjyiam m Arabic: وِيلْيَام m (wilyām), وِلْيَم m (wilyam) Aragonese: Guillén Armenian: Գուլիելմոս (Gulielmos), Վիլհելմ (Vilhelm) (historical persons), Ուիլյամ (Uilyam) Azerbaijani: Uilyam Bengali: উইলিয়াম (bn) (uiliẏam) Breton: Gwilherm (br) Bulgarian: Уи́лям m (Uíljam) Catalan: Guillem (ca) m Cebuano: William Cherokee: ᏫᎵᏯᎻ (wiliyami), ᏫᎵᎭᎹ (wilihama), ᏫᎵ (wili) Chinese: Cantonese: 威廉 (wai1 lim4) Mandarin: 威廉 (zh) (Wēilián) Cornish: Wella Corsican: Guglielmu m Czech: Vilém (cs) m Danish: Vilhelm Dutch: Willem (nl), Wim (nl) Esperanto: Vilhelmo Estonian: Villem Faroese: Vilhjálmur, Viljormur Finnish: Vilho (fi), Ville (fi), Vilhelm (fi) (of historical persons) French: Guillaume (fr), William (fr) Galician: Guillerme (gl) Georgian: უილიამი (uiliami), ვილიამი (viliami), ვილჰელმი (vilhelmi), გიომი (giomi) German: Wilhelm (de) m Greek: Γουλιέλμος (el) (Gouliélmos), Ουίλλιαμ (el) (Ouílliam), Γουίλιαμ (el) (Gouíliam) (transliteration from English) Hawaiian: Wiliama, Uilama Hebrew: וילהלם, וויליאם Hindi: विलियम m (viliyam) Hungarian: Vilmos (hu) Icelandic: Vilhjálmur (is) Ingrian: Viljam Irish: Uilliam, Liam Italian: Guglielmo (it) m Japanese: ウィリアム (Wiriamu), ウィレム (Uiremu) (Dutch form), ギヨーム (Giyōmu) (French form) Korean: 윌리엄 (Willieom) Latin: Gulielmus (la) m, Guilelmus, Guilielmus (Guilhelmus); Wilhelmus m Latvian: Viljams, Vilhelms Lithuanian: Vi̇̀lhelmas (lt) Low German: Willem, Wilm Luxembourgish: Wëllem Macedonian: Ви́лијам (Vílijam) Māori: Wiremu Norman: Dgillaume m, Villaume, Villame Norwegian: Vilhelm Occitan: Guilhèm (oc) Old English: Willelm Old Norse: Vilhjálmr Persian: ویلیام (fa) (viliyâm) Polish: Wilhelm (pl) m Portuguese: Guilherme (pt) Romanian: Vilhelm Russian: Вильге́льм (ru) m (Vilʹgélʹm), Уи́льям (ru) m (Uílʹjam), Уилья́м (ru) m (Uilʹjám), Ви́льям (ru) m (Vílʹjam), Вилья́м (ru) m (Vilʹjám) Samoan: Viliamu Scots: Weelum, Willum Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam Serbo-Croatian: Cyrillic: Вилим Latin: Vilim Sicilian: Gugghiermu m, Vilermu m Slovak: Viliam Slovene: Viljem Spanish: Guillermo (es) Swedish: Vilhelm (sv) Tagalog: William Tamil: வில்லியம் (villiyam) Thai: วิลเลียม Tongan: Viliami Ukrainian: Вільгельм (Vilʹhelʹm) Walloon: Wiyåme (wa) Welsh: Gwilym, Gwillim Yiddish: וויליאַם (vilyam)

References

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• “William”, in Online Etymology Dictionary‎[3], Douglas Harper, retrieved 17 September 2024

Cebuano

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Etymology

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From English William, from Anglo-Norman Willame, from Old High German Willahelm, from willo (“will”) + helm (“helmet”).

Proper noun

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William

1. a male given name from English [in turn from the Germanic languages]
   • 2015 — Suarez, Lloyd, Nabayran ang Bag-ong Director sa BFP-7? (20 May), Super Hirit, Cebu Daily News Apan taliwa sa maong order wala kini gi-respeto[sic] sa maong opisyal nga si Major William Tacaldo nga maoy nagbinastos sa among paryente.(please add an English translation of this quotation)
   • 2016 — Rosalie V., Ang Salapi (01 January), Banat Inbox, Banat News 0942-0789571: “Usa ko sa avid reader sa Banat News. Greet ko sa akong Daddy William Yu diha sa Toledo City.”(please add an English translation of this quotation)
   • 2017 — Maningo, Alcea, Ang Suwerte ni Dory (04 August), SuperBalita Mibuhi si Dory og halawom nga panghupaw paglingkod niya sa sopa sulod sa condo unit nga iyang gibalhinan. Ning sayong kahapunon nakahinuktok siya samtang naglibot ang iyang panan-aw sa upat ka bungbong sa mahalon nga condo unit. Pagsumbong niya kang William nga mabdos na siya, gipabiya siya sa trabaho ug gidala dinhi ning condo nga pinili ni William nga mao say nag-abang.(please add an English translation of this quotation)

Derived terms

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• Yamyam

Danish

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English William.

Proper noun

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William

1. a male given name

French

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English William, though ultimately of Anglo-Norman origin. Doublet of Guillaume.

Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): /wi.ljam/

Proper noun

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William m

1. a male given name

Hungarian

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Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): [ˈvilijɛm]
• Hyphenation: Wil‧li‧am

Proper noun

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William

1. William

Declension

[edit] Inflection (stem in -e-, front unrounded harmony)

singular	plural
nominative	William	Williamek
accusative	Williamet	Williameket
dative	Williamnek	Williameknek
instrumental	Williammel	Williamekkel
causal-final	Williamért	Williamekért
translative	Williammé	Williamekké
terminative	Williamig	Williamekig
essive-formal	Williamként	Williamekként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	Williamben	Williamekben
superessive	Williamen	Williameken
adessive	Williamnél	Williameknél
illative	Williambe	Williamekbe
sublative	Williamre	Williamekre
allative	Williamhez	Williamekhez
elative	Williamből	Williamekből
delative	Williamről	Williamekről
ablative	Williamtől	Williamektől
non-attributivepossessive – singular	Williamé	Williameké
non-attributivepossessive – plural	Williaméi	Williamekéi

Possessive forms of William

possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	Williamem	Williamjeim
2nd person sing.	Williamed	Williamjeid
3rd person sing.	Williamje	Williamjei
1st person plural	Williamünk	Williamjeink
2nd person plural	Williametek	Williamjeitek
3rd person plural	Williamjük	Williamjeik

Middle English

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Alternative forms

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• Willame

Etymology

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From Anglo-Norman Willame.

Proper noun

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William

1. a male given name, equivalent to English William
   • 1477, William Caxton, “Et sic est finis”, in The Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres, Westminster, London: William Caxton, folio 74, recto:Here endeth the book named the dictes or sayengis of the philosophres enprynted. by me william Caxton at westmestre the yere of our lord .M.CCCC.Lxx vij.Here ends the book named "The Dictations or Sayings of the Philosophers" printed by me, William Caxton, at Westminster, the year of our Lord 1477.

Descendants

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• > English: William (inherited) (see there for further descendants)
• Scots: Weelum, Willum
• > Yola: Wyllhaume, Willyaam, Wilyame (inherited)
• ⇒ Middle Irish: Uilliam
  • > Irish: Uilliam (inherited)
  • > Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam (inherited)

References

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• “William”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Norwegian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English William.

Proper noun

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William

1. a male given name

Portuguese

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Alternative forms

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• Uiliam, Uíliam, Uiliame, Willian

Etymology

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Unadapted borrowing from English William. Doublet of Guilherme.

Pronunciation

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• (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈwi.li.ɐ̃/ [ˈwi.lɪ.ɐ̃], (faster pronunciation) /ˈwi.ljɐ̃/

• (Portugal) IPA(key): /ˈwi.ljɐm/

Proper noun

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William m

1. a male given name from English

Spanish

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Etymology

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Unadapted borrowing from English William. Doublet of Guillermo.

Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): /ˈwiljam/ [ˈwi.ljãm]
  • Rhymes: -iljam
• IPA(key): /ˈwiljan/ [ˈwi.ljãn]
  • Rhymes: -iljan
• IPA(key): /ˈwɪliəm/ [ˈwɪliəm]
  • Rhymes: -iəm
• Syllabification: Wi‧lliam

Proper noun

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William m

1. a male given name from English

Swedish

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Alternative forms

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• Villiam

Etymology

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Borrowed from English William. First recorded as a Swedish given name in 1675. Cognate with Swedish Vilhelm.

Proper noun

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William c (genitive Williams)

1. a male given name

Derived terms

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• Wille (diminutive)

References

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• Roland Otterbjörk: Svenska förnamn, Almqvist & Wiksell 1996, →ISBN
• [4] Statistiska centralbyrån and Sture Allén, Staffan Wåhlin, Förnamnsboken, Norstedts 1995, →ISBN: 34 793 males with the given name William (compared to 825 named Villiam) living in Sweden on December 31st, 2010, with the frequency peak in the 2000s decade. Accessed on 19 June 2011.

Tagalog

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English William.

Pronunciation

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• (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /ˈwiljam/ [ˈwil.jɐm]
• Rhymes: -iljam
• Syllabification: Will‧iam

Proper noun

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William (Baybayin spelling ᜏᜒᜎ᜔ᜌᜋ᜔)

1. a male given name from English