A male given name from the Germanic languages popular since the Norman Conquest.
"William was named after his grandfather, continuing a family tradition of using that classic Germanic name introduced to England centuries ago."
From Middle English William, from Anglo-Norman Willame, from Old High German Willahelm, from Proto-Germanic Wiljahelmaz (> Latin Gulielmus), from Proto-Germanic wiljô ("will") + helmaz ("helmet"), ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European roots welh₁- ("to choose, wish, want") and *ḱel- ("to cover, conceal, save") respectively. Cognate with Dutch Willem, German Wilhelm, etc.; cognate borrowings outside of Germanic include Guillaume and Guillermo.