Meaning and Origin

The English name Bill is one of the derivative of the name William. Some of the other variants of the name are Will, Billy, Willy, Liam and Wilem. Historically, the name William grew in recognition after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The name was synonymous with young men who were self-assured and leaders of their peers and grew immensely in its popularity. Bill is one the most popular derivations of William. The meaning of Bill is ‘resolute protector’.

People Called Bill

The name Bill rose in popularity between the 1940’s and 1980’s. There are some famous people who carry the name. Bill Murray, comedian, Bill Clinton, 42nd president of the United States, Bill Gates, Entrepreneur, Bill Cosby, Actor, Bill Kaultz, singer and the American western legends Wild Bill Hickock and Buffalo Bill to name a few.

Popularity

Since its rise in the mid 20th century, the popularity of Bill has somewhat declined over the years. Bill has not been on the top 100 most popular baby boy’s name list in England since 2009 according to the stats from the Office of National Statistics.

Characteristics of the Name

Some characteristics that are associated with the name are, mystical, wise, eccentric and intuitive.

Useful Resources

• Our extensive list of English boys’ names.