Will

In This Article

Origin, Meaning, And History Of Will

Will is a shortened form of the Germanic name William. Will means ‘determined guardian’ or ‘resolute protector.’ The name is derived from the Old Germanic name Wilhelm, which was made up of the elements “wil” and “helm,” which mean ‘will or desire’ and ‘helmet or protection,’ respectively.

The name Will has a long and fascinating history. The Normans brought the name to England in the 11th century, and it became popular among the aristocracy. Since the Middle Ages, it has been a common nickname for the name William. Nicknames were commonly used in medieval times to distinguish individuals with the same given name. Famous historical figures named William, such as William Shakespeare and William the Conqueror, have used Will as a nickname. William the Conqueror was a well-known bearer of the name. In 1066, he conquered England and became King William I.

从1990年代到2000年代初,威廉是一个of the top 100 boys’ names in England and Wales. Will is also a popular boy’s name in the United States. It was among the top 50 boys’ names in the US from the 1880s to the early 1900s.

The common variations of the name Will include Willem (Dutch), Gwilym (Welsh), Wilhelm (German), Guillermo (Spanish), Vilhelm (Scandinavian), Willi (German), Wilbur (English), and Wiley (English).

Willy, Willie, Bill, Wills, Wilco, Wil, Willi, Wilkie, Willa, and Wilbur are a few cute nicknames for the name Will.

The name Will has been used generously in the world of fiction. Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, is the main character in the Academy Award-winning movie Good Will Hunting; while the sci-fi horror drama TV show Stranger Things has the main character named Will Byers. Will Turner is a character in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series. Philip Pullman’s fantasy novel trilogy His Dark Materials has Will Parry as one of the three protagonists. Finally, Will Traynor is an important character in Jojo Mayos’ romance novel Me Before You.

Will

heart image
Determined to protect
Boy
Christianity
Teutonic
W..Wa..Waa..Wae..Wai..Wal..Wil..

How To Pronounce Will?

Pronounced asweel
English

Famous People With The Name Will

  • Will SmithAmerican actor and rapper, won many accolades, including an Academy Award and four Grammy Awards
  • Will FarrellAmerican actor and comedian, presented a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
  • Will ForteAmerican actor, comedian, and writer, known for his work on the NBC sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live”
  • Will WrightAmerican video game designer and creator of the popular game “The Sims”
  • Will DurantAmerican historian and writer, co-authored “The Story of Civilization” book series with his wife Ariel Durant

Will On The Popularity Chart

The name Will has some interesting popularity and rank graphs. Take a look at the SSA data to assess its performance.

Popularity Over Time

Will saw its peak in 2005 with 503 babies per million sharing the name, after which its usage saw a steady decline.

Source:Social Security Administration

Rank Over Time

Will reached its lowest-ever rank of 21,136 in 2007. However, its ranking improved gradually and in 2021, it was in the 18,621st position.

Source:Social Security Administration

Names With Similar Sound As Will

If you find the name Will appealing and are exploring similar-sounding ones, here is a list of monikers you can consider.

Popular Sibling Names For Will

Other Popular Names Beginning With W

Names With Similar Meaning As Will

If you are attracted to the meaning of the name Will and are searching for ones with similar connotations, check out the list below.

Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology

name-numerology-for-will-boy

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.

Download Infographic in PDF version Download Infographic
Download Infographic in PDF version

How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages

在航海标志

will

In Sign Language

will

In Braille Alphabet

will

In Morse Code

will

Name Numerology For Will

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name Will?

The name Will means determined to protect.

2. What is the origin of the name Will?

Will has a Teutonic origin.

3. How to pronounce the name Will?

Will is pronounced as weel.

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