Bill

  • [ BIL ]
  • English
Short form of WILLIAM. This spelling was first used in the 19th century. The change in the initial consonant may have been influenced by an earlier Irish pronunciation of the name. Famous bearers include basketball player Bill Russell (1934-), comedian Bill Cosby (1937-), American president Bill Clinton (1946-), and Microsoft founder Bill Gates (1955-).

WILLIAM   male   English
From the Germanic name Willahelm, which was composed of the elements wil "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection". Saint William of Gellone was an 8th-century cousin of Charlemagne who became a monk. The name was common among the Normans, and it became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England in the 11th century. It was later borne by three other English kings, as well as rulers of Scotland, Sicily (of Norman origin), the Netherlands and Prussia.

Other famous bearers include William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish hero, and William Tell, a legendary 14th-century Swiss hero. In the literary world it was borne by dramatist William Shakespeare (1564-1616), poet William Blake (1757-1827), poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850), dramatist William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), author William Faulkner (1897-1962), and author William S. Burroughs (1914-1997).
FULL FORMS
ENGLISH: William
EQUIVALENTS
ANCIENT GERMANIC: Wilhelm, Willahelm
BRETON: Gwilherm
CATALAN: Guillem
CROATIAN: Vilim, Vilko
CZECH: Vilém
DANISH: Vilhelm
DUTCH: Jelle, Pim, Wil, Wilhelmus, Willem, Willy, Wim
ENGLISH: Liam, Wil, Will, Willie, Willy
ESPERANTO: Vilĉjo, Vilhelmo
ESTONIAN: Villem
FINNISH: Jami, Vilhelm, Vilhelmi, Vilho, Vili, Viljami, Viljo, Ville
FRENCH: Guillaume
GERMAN: Wilhelm, Willi, Willy, Wim
HUNGARIAN: Vilhelm, Vili, Vilmos
ICELANDIC: Vilhjálmur
IRISH: Liam, Uilleag, Uilliam, Ulick
ITALIAN: Guglielmo
LATVIAN: Vilhelms, Vilis
LIMBURGISH: Wöllem, Wullem, Wum
LITHUANIAN: Vilhelmas
MANX: Illiam
MAORI: Wiremu
MEDIEVAL ENGLISH: Wilmot
NORWEGIAN: Vilhelm
POLISH: Wilhelm
PORTUGUESE: Guilherme
SCOTTISH: Uilleam
SLOVAK: Viliam
SLOVENE: Vili, Viljem, Vilko
SPANISH: Guillermo
SWEDISH: Vilhelm, Ville
WELSH: Gwil, Gwilim, Gwillym, Gwilym
DIMINUTIVES AND SHORT FORMS
ENGLISH: Billie, Billy
MEDIEVAL ENGLISH: Wilkin, Wilky
FEMININE FORMS
CROATIAN: Vilma
CZECH: Vilma
DUTCH: Elma, Helma, Mien, Mina, Wil, Wilhelmina, Willemijn, Willemina, Willy, Wilma
ENGLISH: Mina, Minnie, Velma, Wilhelmina, Willa, Wilma
FINNISH: Helmi, Iina, Miina, Mimmi, Minna, Vilhelmiina, Vilma
GERMAN: Elma, Helma, Helmine, Minna, Vilma, Wilhelmina, Wilhelmine, Wilma
HUNGARIAN: Vilma
LIMBURGISH: Mien, Mina
LITHUANIAN: Vilhelmina
POLISH: Wilhelmina
SLOVAK: Vilma
SPANISH: Vilma
SWEDISH: Helmi, Mimmi, Minna, Vilhelmina, Vilma
OTHER FORMS
ENGLISH: Liam, Wilkie, Willis, Wilson