Which name – Willy, Will, or Willa – will you pick for your child?
You have decided on the name William for your baby. Now you need to come up with some nicknames for William. The baby name William has its origin in old German and comes from the word Wilhelm, which means ‘desire’ and ‘helmet.’ This translates to ‘wilful protector.’ Shannon Robinson, a mother of two who makes videos online, is considering naming her baby William. She thinks William is a classic baby name that is popular, but she likes how traditional it is. Shannon understands that not everyone may like classic baby names, but she personally appreciates them. William is a nice name, but let’s explore some cute nicknames for your baby boy that come from it. You could go with Wil, Liam, or Lee, but if you want something more unique, we have a special list for you to check out.
Impressive Short Names Or Nicknames For William
1. Bill
Bill is a variation of the baby name Will that became popular in the 17th century when people started swapping the first letters of names that sounded similar. Bill Gates is one of the most well-known examples of this naming trend.
2. Billem
Combining the baby names Bill and William creates the unique and imaginative baby name Billem. Another way to write it is as Bill’m for a more captivating appearance.
3. Billie
Billie is a nickname that can be used for both males and females and is commonly paired with other baby names like Billie-Jean or Billie-Joe. Currently, Billie Eilish is a very talented young musician in the United States and has gained global fame.
4. Billy
Billy is a common nickname, which is a different way of spelling Billie. One well-known person with this baby name is the musician and piano player Billy Joel.
5. Gee
Guillaume is the French version of the name William, and the nickname Gee is cool and fashionable, making it easy to recall. In Europe, this baby name is pronounced as ghee, while in the USA it is pronounced as jhee.
6. Gil
Gil is actually a shortened version of the French baby name Guillaume, which is the equivalent of William in English. It is a cute and simple baby name to say. Plus, it can be used for both boys and girls, making this baby name gender-neutral.
7. Goulièlmos
Goulièlmos is a Greek version of the baby name William, giving a unique flair to the Mediterranean accent.
8. Gugghiermu
Gugghiermu is a variation of the baby name Guillermo, which is the Greek form of William and is well-liked in the Aeolian islands of Sicily. This baby name has an Italian sound to it. Gugghiermu was a well-liked leader in the region during the mid-12th century.
9. Guglielmino
In Italy, Guillermo is a variation of the baby name William in Greek. It is typically used for the youngest or favorite child in a family. The name has a cute sound to it and shows some influence from the Latin language.
10. Guglielmo
Guglielmo is the Italian version of William and is very well-liked. Guglielmo Marconi, a renowned scientist, created the radio and other wireless technology advancements.
11. Gui
Gui is a shortened version of the French name Guillaume, which translates to William in English. This baby name is commonly used in France and Belgium, and is pronounced as ‘gee’.
12. Guildhelm
In the past, the Dutch called knights and warriors Guildhelm. The baby name Guildhelm is a combination of the words ‘guild’ and ‘helm,’ and it means ‘a gilded helmet,’ similar to Wilhelm. This baby name originated from the military but eventually became popular among regular people.
13. Guilelmo
Guilelmo is an Italian form of the baby name William, which is less formal and can be used as a nickname. The same short forms that are used for Guillermo can also be used for Guilelmo.
14. Guilen
Guilen is a cute nickname for Guillermo, which is the Spanish equivalent of William. It is commonly used in the Basque region of Spain and is pronounced as gee-len.
15. Guilgelmus
Guilgelmus is a Latin version of the baby name Guillermo, which is the Spanish form of William, commonly found in old official documents and literary works. This baby name is pronounced as gee-gale-moos.
16. Guilhem
In southern France and the Occitan area of Italy, the nickname ‘Guilhem’ is commonly used for the baby name Guillermo. It is pronounced as geel-hem.
17. Guilherme
The Portuguese have their own variations of the baby name William, with Guilherme being the most commonly used. This baby name is also popular in Brazil, where the official language is Portuguese. One well-known soccer player from Brazil is Guilherme Arana.
18. Guilihelmus
In ancient Greece, baby names from different places were used and changed to fit Greek customs. Guilihelmus is an example of this. This baby name became popular among Catholic religious groups.
19. Guillaume
Guillaume is a common French baby name that comes from the German Wilhelm. This baby name is pronounced as ‘gee-yohm.’
20. Guile
Guile is a shorter version of the Spanish baby name Guillermo and can be pronounced as either geel or ga-yil. This baby name is also used for a character in the well-known video game Street Fighter.
21. Guillem
Guillem is a common nickname for Guillermo (which is the Spanish version of William) in the Catalan areas of Spain. Guillem Balague is a well-known Spanish sports journalist, famous for his coverage of football.
22. Guillen
In the Aragon valleys of Spain, Guillen is a common shortened nickname pronounced as ‘ghee-len’. It is also a surname in the United States.
23. Guillermo
The baby name William has its roots in Latin and was brought to America by Spanish migrants where it became a common name among Latin-speaking communities. Guillermo Rodriguez is a well-known comedian who is a regular guest on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show.
24. Gulielmus
In ancient Rome, courts had different versions of baby names that followed the rules of Latin. For example, Gulielmus is a formal version of the baby name Guillermo that was used in Roman courts.
25. Guy
Guy is often used as a nickname for Guillaume, which is a French version of William. It’s important for English speakers to know that Guy is pronounced as ‘ghee’ and not ‘gai’. Guy is also a separate name that is quite popular in France and Belgium.
26. Gwilherm
Gwilherm is a common variation of the baby name William in the Breton language spoken in Brittany, France. The Bretons originally came from the Netherlands and settled in Belgium and France.
27. Gwilim
Gwilim comes from the Spanish name Guillero and became well-known in Wales. It is also featured in Welsh folklore stories.
28. Gwilym
It’s a Welsh version that’s like Gwilim but more well-known. This baby name is pronounced as gwai-leem. Gwilim Lee is the actor who portrayed Brian May in the Queen biopic film Bohemian Rhapsody.
29. Helmi
Helmi is a shorter version of the name Wilhelmina, which is the female version of Wilhelm. This baby name is commonly used in Icelandic and Norwegian communities.
30. Hillbilly
Hillbilly is a baby name commonly used in the southern United States to describe people who live in the hills.
31. Iliam
The baby name Iliam, which is a shortened form of William, has become very popular on its own. It is considered stylish and modern, even though it is short and simple baby name to say.
32. Jelle
Jelle is a cute nickname for Willem in certain regions of the Netherlands and Belgium. This nickname is created by switching the first letter of the name to make it sound fun and unique.
33. Liam
Liam is a cool and contemporary short version of the baby name William. It originated in Ireland and is also a well-liked name by itself. Actor Liam Neeson, who comes from Ireland, is famous for his work in Hollywood.
34. Memo
Memo is a cute and shorter nickname that people in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries use for Guillermo, which is a variation of William. This baby name is pronounced as mee-moh.
35. Minna
Minna is a nickname derived from the name Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina is the female version of the baby name Wilhelm.
36. Uilleag
Uilleag is an Irish version of the baby name William in Scottish Gaelic. This baby name has a unique and exotic sound that reflects the Irish dialect. The pronunciation of the baby name Uilleag is ‘oy-lee-agh.’
37. Uilleam
The way the baby name William is spelled in Gaelic includes a ‘U’ at the beginning to highlight the Scottish language. Uilleam, the Earl of Mar, was a powerful ruler in northern Scotland during the mid to late 13th century.
38. Uilliam
Uilliam is pronounced just like William but with a hint of a Scottish accent. Similar to the previous version, the letter ‘u’ is used instead of ‘w’ at the beginning and is a different way of spelling the name.
39. Ulick
Ulick is a baby name of Norse origin that is popular in countries like Denmark and Sweden. It is linked to the Scottish baby name Uilliam in its spelling roots and is pronounced as oi-lik.
40. Ulliam
The people in Scotland have different versions of the baby name William, with many of them starting with a ‘u’ instead of a ‘w.’ Uilliam is a common Scottish version of the baby name William.
41. Velam
Velam is a baby name that is well-known among Swedes and is frequently used in folklore and myths.
42. Viiliimmi
It is a Norse-inspired variation of the baby name Williame, commonly used by people in Greenland. This baby name is also associated with a Norse god who is highly respected and admired in folklore.
43. Vilhelms
It is the Latvian version of the baby name William and is similar to the German name Wilhelms. This baby name is well-liked and one famous person with this name is Latvian artist Vilhelms Purvitis.
44. Vilhelmus
It is a Latin version of the bay name Wilhelm that is standardized. Vilhelmus has the ending ‘us,’ which was common during Roman times. This baby name is pronounced as veel-hel-moos.
45. Vilhjalmr
Vilhialmr is an ancient Nordic variation of the baby name William, which is well-liked in Sweden and Norway. This baby name is also present in other Scandinavian countries and has the typical Norwegian way of pronouncing it.
46. Vilhjálmur
Vilhjálmur is a popular baby name in Iceland, often associated with wars and warriors. This baby name came from the German name Wilhelm, but the pronunciation has changed over time to sound like vil-hyal-mur.
47. Viliam
In a lot of eastern European cultures, the letter ‘v’ is commonly found in baby names and can sometimes be pronounced like ‘w’ in Slovakian. This baby name Villain is widely used in Slovakia and neighboring countries.
48. Viliamu
A Samoan variation that was originally mispronounced became the norm in the Polynesian island countries over time. Kitiona Viliamu is a well-known rugby player from Samoa.
49. Vilis
Vilis is a shorter version of the Latvian baby name Vilhelms and is commonly used as a nickname. It sounds quite similar to the English last name Willis.
50. Viliumas
Viliumas is a common male name in Lithuania that is similar to William. Viliumas Malinauskas, a millionaire entrepreneur from Lithuania, has achieved success in business.
51. Viljam
Viljam is pronounced as veel-yam and it is the Latvian equivalent of the baby name William. This baby name has become popular in some regions of Norway as well.
52. Vilko
Croatians have been using the nickname Vilko for William for a while. While it is connected to William, Vilko also can mean wolves and foxes in some Croatian dialects.
53. Villem
Villem is a baby name in Estonia that is similar to William. It has been used by some important people in Estonia, like Villem Gross, who is a respected journalist and writer.
54. Vilmos
Vilmos is a nice nickname for the baby name William. It is a common baby name in Hungary. Vilmos Szabadi is a talented classical violin player who has received many awards for his music.
55. Vilyam
The baby name Vilyam, which has Turkish origins, is still commonly used in central Asia and many parts of eastern Europe. Vilyam Rokhi served as a military general in the Latvian army during World War I.
56. Walaam
Walaam is a Turkish version of the baby name William that aligns better with the Turkish accent. The name is reminiscent of the word ‘salaam’ which means greetings.
57. Weelum
Weelum is a common Scottish baby name found in fantasy and folktales. In one story, Weelum is portrayed as a bear guarding the entrance to different realms.
58. Wellëm
Wellëm is a popular variation in certain dialects spoken in Luxembourg. It uses the pronunciation and spelling of the Luxembourgish language.
59. Wiley
Wiley is a different way to spell the baby names Willy or Willie. The baby name Wiley sounds happier and more positive than Willy. This baby name can be pronounced as either wee-lee or wai-lee.
60. Wilhelm
The original German baby name from which William comes is Wilhelm. This baby name is highly respected and used by nobles and those of high social status. Wilhelm II was the final German emperor who played a significant role in increasing German power in the late 1800s.
61. Wilhelmina
The female version of the baby name Wilhelm is well-liked in both the Netherlands and Germany. This elegant baby name has also been chosen as the brand name for a top modeling and talent agency located in New York.
62. Wilhelmus
Wilhelmus, the Dutch version of Wilhelm, is highly respected and is also the title of the national anthem of the Netherlands.
63. Will
The abbreviation of the baby name William, Will, commonly means ‘desire’. Many famous people like actors Will Smith and Will Ferrell are known by this name.
64. Will.i.Am
The creative way of writing a name popularized by the band Black Eyed Peas’ lead singer William James Adams.’
65. Willa
The baby name Willa is widely used for girls and comes from the baby name Will. Willa Holland, a well-known television actress, also goes by this name.
66. Willahelm
The ancient Germanic baby name Wilhelm has been written in various ways in different areas. In the Black Forest region of Germany, you can find the variation Willahelm.
67. Willame
The old Norman way of spelling ‘William’ involved adding an ‘e’ to the end of the name. At one time, this particular baby name was more common than just ‘William.’
68. Willaume
It is a variation of a Welsh baby name and is also commonly used as a last name. One well-known actor with this name is Alexandre Willaume.
69. Willelm
It’s a form of Old English that appears in documents and writings from the Anglo-Saxon period. The way it’s spoken is closer to how the name Wilhelm is pronounced in German.’
70. Willem
Willem is a Dutch version of the baby name Willam. This baby name comes from the Frisian language spoken in the northern part of the Netherlands. Willem Dafoe is an experienced actor in Hollywood.
71. Williamson
Williamson is a popular last name in Scotland and means ‘the son of William’. Kane Williamson, a talented cricketer from New Zealand, shares this surname.
72. Willian
In the Irish version, the letter ‘m’ at the end is changed to ‘n.’ This change in spelling also alters the pronunciation, making it sound like ‘willy-anne.’
73. Williama
The baby name William is changed to fit the way it is pronounced in Hawaii.
74. Willie
Willie or Willy are both nicknames that come from the name Will.
75. Willis
Willis is a popular last name in Scotland. It is also used as a first name. The actor Bruce Willis, known for his role in Diehard, has the last name Willis.
76. Willum
The Scottish version of the German baby name Wilhelm is known as its derivation. The name became popular first in the Glasgow area.
77. Willy
Willy is a common nickname for people named William. This baby name has been featured in various movies and books. One famous character with this nickname is Willy Wonka from the book ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’
78. Wilson
Wilson is a last name derived from the names Will or William. It is well-known, especially because of the famous sports brand with the same name.
79. Wiremu
The Maori people of New Zealand prefer this baby name. Wiremu Tamihana, a well-known Maori leader from the late 1800s, is now respected as the ‘Kingmaker.’
80. Wiriamu
In Japanese, because they don’t distinguish between the sounds ‘l’ and ‘r’, the baby name William is often pronounced as Wiriamu.
81. Wull
Wull is a different way to spell the name Will, with the letter ‘u’ replacing the ‘i’ to match how it is pronounced in Scotland.
82. Wullie
Wullie is a sweet nickname for William that is commonly used in Scotland. Sometimes people say it like ‘woolly’ or ‘olie’. Wullie is also a well-known character in a comic strip that appears in The Sunday Post newspaper in Scotland.
83. Wulson
Wulson is another way of saying ‘Wilson.’ The Scottish version of the baby name Wilson is spelled as Wulson, with the letter ‘i’ being replaced by ‘u’ to emphasize the Scottish way of pronouncing it.
84. Wylie
Wylie is a different way of spelling the name Willie, and it can be pronounced as either wee-lee or wai-lee. Wylie Dufresne is a well-known chef and restaurant owner who shares this name.
85. Wyllys
The baby ame Wyllys is a variation of a Scottish surname, with its earliest recorded use in the market town of Dumfries. The Wyllyses were also known to move to the United States in the 17th century.
Frequently Asked Questions
A nickname symbolizes closeness and fondness between the person being named and the person giving the nickname. It is often a term of endearment and can be used instead of a full name. The name William is well-liked worldwide and ranks as the 5th most popular name in the US, according to the 2020 Official Social Security Database. This compilation of fun, typical, and unique nicknames for William can assist you in choosing one that matches your William’s character and likes.