Alternatives to William

Will

Diminutive of William

"resolute protector"

Will has definitely replaced Bill, not only as a nickname for William but as a stand-alone name as well, partly thanks to England's Prince William, also known as Wills. Currently outside the Top 1000…

Willem

Dutch variation of William

"resolute protector"

Common in Holland, the appealing Willem (as in de Kooning and Dafoe) makes William fresh and distinctive.

Willfredo

Willfredo is a variation of the more common Wilfredo, which itself derives from the Germanic name Wilfred, composed of elements meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'peace.' This masculine name carries…

Williamsburg

English place name

"William's town"

An unlikely place name today, but one that was found among enslaved people in the 1800s.

Williamson

Williamson originated as an English surname meaning 'son of William,' making it a patronymic derived from the classic Germanic name William (composed of elements meaning 'will' or 'desire' and…

Willoughby

English

"farm near the willows"

Willoughby is an energetic last-name-first route to the popular short form Will, livelier than any of the two-syllable options. It could be picked up by parents attracted to the Willow sound for…

Wolfgang

German

"traveling wolf"

A name with plenty of grandeur, but a playful nickname, Wolfgang blends sophistication, wildness, and gothic imagery. While it may feel surprising in this century, it does have an allure for those…

Willy

Diminutive of William

See WILLIE.

Willie

Diminutive of William, German

"resolute protection"

There have been many great Willies (Mays, Nelson, Wonka), but a boy with this name could never ever go to England. Most people will also assume it is short for the more traditional William, which…