William

/ˈwɪl.i.əm/

WꞮL · i · əm (3 syllables)

English Noun Top 1,850

American (Lessac) (medium)

Female 0.7s

American (Amy) (medium)

Female 0.8s

American (Ryan) (medium)

Male 0.4s

Definition

radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter W.

Etymology

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.