An eternal classic name like William, although quite middle-of-the-road but never lost its charm. This royal name holds a special place in people’s hearts, and the middle name should also enhance the regality of this name.
In this article, you will get to know the origin, meaning, popularity and middle names for William and the different ways to spell this name.
I also suggested some female variants of this name and the cultural variations.
Origin of the name William
William is a truly classic French name with Germanic roots. It is derived from the Germanic elements ‘wil’ and ‘helm.’
It is also suggested that it is the derivative of the Germanic name Wilhelm. It is also considered to be the anglicized form of Norman name Willaume.
Meaning of the name William
This name stands for the desire to protect with the Germanic roots and thus translated as courageous, persistent, and strong-willed protector.
List of best middle names for William
William is a classic name and gives you the vibes of a mischievous yet kind and mature person.
This name is also accompanied by cute nicknames, including Will, Willie, Liam, and Billy. I have tried to bring you a comprehensive list of stunning middle names.
Traditional middle names good for William
Traditional names will always be around. Because people love and admire them. William goes well with traditional middle names. You can pick from the list below, which was put together with great care.
- William Amos {Hebrew}-Carried by God
- William Arthur {Celtic}-Bear or Thor
- William Beau {French}-Handsome
- William Benedict {Latin}-Blessed
- William Benjamin {Hebrew}-A favorite son
- William Caleb {Hebrew}-Whole heart
- William Charles {German}-Free man
- William Conrad {German}-Brave, bold ruler or counsel
- William Clark {English}-Cleric
- William Donovan {Irish}-Darkened
- William Edgar {English}-Wealthy spear
- William Edward {English}-Wealthy guard
- William Everett {English}-Brave
- William Franklin {English}-Free landholder
- William Frederick {German}-Peaceful ruler
- William Gilbert {French}-Bright promise
- William Hank {German}-Home ruler
- William Isaac {Hebrew}-He will laugh
- William Jasper {English}-Treasurer
- William Leo {Latin}-Lion
- William Lucas {Latin}-Bringer of light
- William Max {English}-Greatest
- William Morris {Latin}-Dark-skinned
- William Milo {German}-Soldier
- William Otis {German}-Wealth; son of Otto
- William Otto {German}-Wealth
- William Preston {English}-Priest’s town
- William Patrick {Latin}-Noble
- William Russell {English}-Little red
- William Saul {Hebrew}-Prayed for
- William Scott {Old English}-A Scotsman
- William Thomas {Greek}-Twin
- William Theodore {Greek}-God’s gift
- William Victor {Latin}-Champion
- William Vincent {Latin}-Conquer
- William Wallace {French}-Welshman
Popular and unique middle names to go with William
Popular names are appealing and charming. Parents look for names that are unique and will make their children stand out. I’ve picked out for you a nice combination of William and unique names with popularity and good meanings.
- William Abram {Hebrew}-The Father of Nation
- William Andres {Spanish}-Manly
- William Andrew {Greek}-Manly and powerful
- William Aaron {Hebrew}-Strong
- William Beckett {English}-Bee hive or cottage
- William Connor {Irish}-Dog lover
- William Cooper {English}-Barrel maker
- William Daniel {Hebrew}-God is My Judge
- William David {Hebrew}-Beloved
- William Douglas {Scottish}-Black river
- William Ethan {Hebrew}-Enduring and strong
- William Evan {Welsh}-God is gracious
- William Felix {Latin}-Happy and lucky
- William Garrett {English}-Spear rule
- William Hawk {English}-Falcon, bird of prey
- William Huxley {English}-Hugh’s meadow
- William Jason {Greek}-To heal
- William John {Hebrew}-God is gracious
- William Knox {English}-Round hill
- William Marcus {Latin}-Dedicated to Mars
- William Marcel {French}-Little Warrior
- William Rhys {Welsh}-Enthusiasm
- William Zachary {Hebrew}-God has remembered
Unisex middle names that go with William
The equality of both genders is shown with Unisex names. William is also well-suited to gender-neutral names. The unisex names are shown below, along with their origin and meaning, and you may pick yours here.
- William Archer {English}-Bowman
- William Blake {English}-Pale hair or skin
- William Bennett {Latin}-Blessed one
- William Carson {Scottish}-Son of the marsh-dwellers
- William Cole {English}-Coal black, Swarthy
- William Dane {English}-A Dane from Denmark
- William Kyle {Gaelic}-Narrow Straight
- William Parker {English}-Park keeper
- William Sawyer {English}-Wood sawyer
- William Scout {French}-To listen
- William Taylor {French}-Tailor
You might like this: Cute soft boy names
The popularity of the name William
William name was popularized in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was because the leader of the pack was named William. He was crowned as a kind of England. This name became highly popular in the states and is considered a royal name as the next throne of British throne also holds the name William.
According to the Social Security Administration, USA, this name has been popular since the 1900s, but I believe it was popular way before the 1900s since 1066. It remained in the top ten most popular boy’s names till 1975. After that, it experienced a little decline in its position however it never went below 20th position.
In the year 2006, it reclaimed its throne and gradually made its place in the first five most popular baby boys’ names. In the year 2020, it was the fifth most popular boys’ name among 1000 popular names. In 2020, 12541 baby boys were named William.
This name is popular in Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, England, the United States, and Wales.
Different ways to spell William
I feel it is like profanity to change the spellings of this truly classic name. However, here are a few alternate spellings that you may want to consider.
- Willyum
- Willium
- Villiam
- Wilium
- Villyum
But the use of unconventional spellings for this name for your baby will lead him to the hassle correct every other person.
If you like this name but find it too mainstream, you can consider its modern diminutive Liam, which is now more popular than William and secured the first position in 2020.
The female variant of the name William
Although this is a strictly masculine name, some parents of baby girls like this name have tried some variants of this name.
- Willa
- Willemina
- Willamette
- Wilma
- Wilhelmina
Among these female variants, the name Willa is still on the charts and was in position 349th in the year 2020.
Cultural variations of the name William
William name is beloved in various cultures and countries, and the following are some variations of this name.
- Wilhelm, Willahelm (German, Polish)
- Vilim (Croatia)
- Vilem (Czech Republic)
- Vilhelm (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish)
- Wilhelmus (Dutch)
- Wilhelmo (Esperanto)
- Vilhelms (Latvian)
Endnote
It is never simple to choose the ideal middle name, but I hope that I have been able to provide some inspiration to help you choose a middle name that you adore.
And if you’re still looking for other wonderful middle names, take a look at the following resources to get more inspiration.
- middle names for Abram
- middle names for Damion
- middle names for Christain
- middle names for Adrian
- middle names for Waylon
Best wishes!