William comes from the Germanic Willahelm, from wil, will, and helm, helmet or protection, and means "resolute protector". William the Conqueror brought it to England in 1066, and it has been one of the most common English names ever since, borne by Shakespeare and several US presidents. William has been a top 10 name in the United States since 2006, peaked at number three from 2016 to 2018 and ranks ninth in 2025.