Bill

Bill is a male first name that is considered an English short form of William. This name has its roots in the Old High German Wilhelm. In its direct translation, Bill means 'the strong-willed protector' or 'the determined defender'.

What does the name Bill mean?

The first name Bill originates as an English short form of William, which is a derivative of the Old High German name Wilhelm. Translated, Bill means 'the strong-willed protector' or 'the determined defender'. The roots of the name lie in Old High German, where the components willio mean 'will', 'determination', or 'desire' and helm mean 'helmet', 'covering', 'protection', or 'shelter'. In general English usage, the word bill is also associated with 'invoice' or 'receipt'. In the Netherlands, bil means 'the buttocks'. Other variants include Billi, Billy, Billey, and Billie. Notable personalities with this name include entrepreneur Bill Gates and former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Where does the name Bill come from?

The first name Bill has its roots in Old High German and means 'the strong-willed protector'.

How do you pronounce Bill?

The pronunciation of Bill is monosyllabic and has a compact sound. It is pronounced as [bɪl] or in English [bɪl], with a short, bright vowel at the center. The double consonant -ll provides a soft ending to the name. Overall, Bill conveys an uncomplicated and present impression – friendly, direct, and timeless.

When is the name day of Bill?

Bill celebrates his name day on January 10, May 28, and June 18.

Popularity

In Germany, Bill is a rare first name and currently ranks 5,840th among the most popular male first names. Its best placement was in 2014 at 1,187th. In the last ten years, Bill has been used as a first name about 100 times, placing it at 2,342nd in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 2,058th.

Nicknames & pet names

Billie / Billou / Billy / Billy-Boy

Similar first names

Famous people

• Bill Allen (American basketball player)
• Bill Allred (jazz musician from America)
• Bill Amend (cartoonist from the USA)
• Bill Bates (American football player)
• Bill Bell (American footballer)
• Bill Berry (drummer of REM)
• Bill Bradley (cricketer)
• Bill Burbach (American baseball player)
• Bill Burtenshaw (English footballer)
• Bill Charlton (football player from Great Britain)
• Bill Clinton (President)
• Bill Cody (American footballer)
• Bill Conti (composer from America)
• Bill Cosby (American actor, real name William Henry Cosby, Jr.)
• Bill Damianos (Australian footballer)
• Bill Doherty (American actor)
• Bill Ellerington (British footballer)
• Bill Gates (co-founder of Microsoft and one of the richest men in the world)
• Bill Haley (rock 'n' roll musician)
• Bill Hayward (rugby player from the USA)