William comes from the Germanic Willahelm, joining words for "will" or "desire" and "helmet" or "protection." It arrived in England with William the Conqueror in 1066 and quickly became one of the most popular names in the country, a position it has rarely lost. A name used by that many men for that long was always going to collect nicknames.
The oldest and most obvious is Will, simply the first syllable. Bill is harder to explain from the spelling. It's usually explained as a rhyming variation of Will, the same habit that gave English Bob from Rob and Peg from Meg. Liam is a newer arrival in English: it began as the Irish short form of Uilliam and has become one of the most popular boys' names in its own right.
The name has plenty of famous holders. Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III, and the British press has long called Prince William "Wills." Across Europe and Latin America, William turns into Willem, Wim, Guillermo and Memo. The lists below are grouped by style. If William runs in your family, the list makes it easy to give each generation its own version, from Bill to Will to Liam.
Will, Willie and Wills
Short forms built on the first syllable.
- WillThe classic short form. Friendly, steady and never out of style.
- WillieWill with an -ie ending. Warm and old-fashioned.
- WillyAnother spelling of Willie.
- WillsA casual, affectionate form, famous as the press nickname for Prince William.
Bill and Billy
The rhyming branch of the family.
- BillUsually explained as a rhyme on Will. Solid and dependable.
- BillyBill with a -y ending. Boyish and energetic.
Liam
One nickname that became a name of its own.
- LiamBegan as the Irish short form of Uilliam. Now one of the most popular boys' names in the U.S.
William around the world
The forms and pet forms William takes in other languages.
- WillemThe Dutch form of William.
- WimThe usual Dutch short form of Willem.
- GuillermoThe Spanish form of William.
- MemoA common Mexican nickname for Guillermo.
- GuilleA Spanish short form of Guillermo, pronounced roughly GHEE-yeh.
- GuillaumeThe French form of William.
- GwilymThe Welsh form of William.
Choosing a William nickname
- Will is the safe, modern choice. Bill and Billy feel more traditional, and Liam feels like a separate name entirely.
- Think about the full arc: Billy on a boy, Will on a teenager and Bill on a grandfather are all the same William.
- Families with an older William often give the younger one a different nickname, like Will for the father and Liam for the son.
- If you want something unexpected, the Dutch Wim or the Welsh Gwilym stand out while staying true to the name.
Common questions
How did Bill become a nickname for William?
Bill is usually explained as a rhyming variation of Will, following the same English habit that turned Rob into Bob and Meg into Peg. The exact route isn't recorded, but that's the standard explanation.
Is Liam short for William?
Yes. Liam began as the Irish short form of Uilliam, the Irish version of William. It's now used as a full name on its own.
What does William mean?
It comes from the Germanic Willahelm, from words meaning "will" or "desire" and "helmet" or "protection," so it's often translated as "resolute protector."
What is William in Spanish?
Guillermo. Common Spanish nicknames for it are Guille and, especially in Mexico, Memo.