List of people named William

William is a masculine given name which may refer to:

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2017)

Fictional characters

William "Will", a character in Veronica Roth's Divergent
Sir William, Rapunzel's husband in Chris Colfer's The Land of Stories
William Afton, a major antagonist in the Five Nights at Freddy's game franchise
William Birkin, in the Resident Evil game franchise
William Brown, the main character of the children's book series Just William by Richmal Crompton
William "Will" Byers, from Stranger Things
William "Will" Turner, Pirates of the Caribbean
William "Bootstrap Bill" Turner, Pirates of the Caribbean
William "Bill" Denbrough, main protagonist in Stephen King's novel It
William Ellis, a survivor in the video game Identity V
Will Graham, in Thomas Harris' novel Red Dragon, the film adaptations Manhunter (1986) and Red Dragon (2002), and the television series Hannibal (2013–2015)
William "Billy" Hargrove, from Stranger Things
William Herondale, one of the main characters in the young adult book series The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
William Murdoch, a main protagonist in the Canadian television series Murdoch Mysteries
William "Billy" Nolan, one of the main antagonists in Stephen King's Carrie and its adaptations
William Riker, first officer on the Enterprise-D in the Star Trek franchise
William Solace, head healer and son of Apollo in Percy Jackson & the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus
William Suarez, one of the main characters of Philippine television series Widows' Web, portrayed by Bernard Palanca
William T. Spears, a reaper in the manga Black Butler by Yana Toboso
William Toughbutt, a character in Ninjago
William Anthonio Zeppeli, a major character in Phantom Blood, the first part of the Japanese manga series Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
William "Bill" Overbeck, one of the main playable protagonists in Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2
B.J. Blazkowicz is the main character in most of the Wolfenstein video game series.

Saints

Saint William (disambiguation), lists several saints named William

Royalty and nobility

Ordered chronologically

British

William the Conqueror (c. 1028-1087) First Norman King of England, Duke of Normandy
William II of England (c.1057-1100) King of England
William III of England (1650-1702) King of England, Scotland and Ireland, Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel
William IV (1765-1837) King of the United Kingdom and Hanover
William I of Scotland (c. 1142–1214), a.k.a. William the Lion
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1146/7–1219), Anglo-Norman soldier and statesman
William IX, Count of Poitiers (1153–1156), first son of Henry II of England
William, Prince of Wales (born 1982), elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales

Dutch

William I, Count of Holland (1167–1222), Count of Holland
William II of Holland (1228–1256), also King of Germany
William I, Prince of Orange (1533–1584), a.k.a. William the Silent
William II, Prince of Orange (1626–1650), stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands
William III of Orange (1650–1702), also William III of England and William II of Scotland
William IV, Prince of Orange (1711–1751), first hereditary Stadtholder of all the United Provinces
William I of the Netherlands (1772–1843), Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg
William V, Prince of Orange (1748–1806), last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic
William II of the Netherlands (1792–1849), King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Duke of Limburg
William III of the Netherlands (1817–1890), King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Duke of Limburg

French

William of Gellone (c. 755–812 or 814), Count of Toulouse, canonized a saint
William Longsword (r. 927–942), second Duke of Normandy
William XI, Count of Auvergne^{[broken anchor]}
William XII, Count of Auvergne (1300–1332), Count of Auvergne from 1325 to 1332

German

William I, German Emperor, (1797–1888), Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia
Wilhelm II, German Emperor (1859–1941), Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia

Sicilian

William I of Sicily (1131–1166), a.k.a. William the Bad or William the Wicked
William II of Sicily (1155–1189), a.k.a. William the Good
William III of Sicily (1190–1198), last Norman King of Sicily, reigning briefly for ten months in 1194

Cameroon

William I of Bimbia, 19th-century king of the Isubu people
William II of Bimbia (died 1882), king of the Isubu people

Other

William I (disambiguation), multiple royals and nobles
William II, multiple royals and nobles
- William II of Villehardouin (died 1278), Prince of Achaea
William III, multiple royals and nobles
William IV (disambiguation), multiple royals and nobles
- William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1852–1912; r. 1905–1912)
William V, multiple royals and nobles
William VI, multiple royals and nobles
William VII, multiple royals and nobles
William VIII, multiple royals and nobles
William IX, multiple royals and nobles
William X, multiple royals and nobles
William of Werle (died 1436/94-1436), Lord of Werle-Güstrow
William, Prince of Albania (1876–1945), from March to September 1914

Pre-modern era commoners

Ordered chronologically

British

William (bishop of the Isles) (died 1095), bishop of what later became the Diocese of the Isles
William Aiton (disambiguation), several people
William de Corbeil (c. 1070–1136), Archbishop of Canterbury
William of Malmesbury (died 1143), English historian and monk
William of Tyre (c. 1130–1185), Archbishop of Tyre, chronicler of the Crusades
William of Norwich (c. 1132–1144), saint and martyr
William of York (died 1154), Archbishop of York and saint
William (bishop of Moray) (died 1162), Roman Catholic bishop in Scotland
William the Trouvère (fl. 1150–1200), English Anglo-Norman poet and translator
William of Ramsey (fl. 1219), English monk and hagiographer
William (bishop of Dunblane) (died early 1290s), Tironensian abbot and bishop in the Kingdom of Scotland
William Wallace (c. 1270–1305), Scottish general and one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence
William of Ockham (1287–1347), English friar and philosopher, originator of Occam's Razor
William of Wykeham (1320–1404), Bishop of Winchester, founder of Winchester College and New College, Oxford
William Caxton (c. 1422–c. 1491), English merchant, diplomat and writer, thought to be the first person to introduce a printing press into England

French

William of Poitiers (c. 1020–1090), Norman chronicler, chaplain to William the Conqueror
William de St-Calais (died 1096), Norman abbot, Bishop of Durham
William (bishop of Orange) (died 1098), took part in the First Crusade
William of Champeaux (1070–1121), French philosopher and theologian
William of Conches (c. 1090–c. 1154), French scholastic philosopher, tutor of Henry II of England
William of Donjeon (c. 1155–1209), a.k.a. St. William of Bourges and St. William the Confessor, French archbishop
William the Clerk (fl. c. 1200–c. 1240), Old French poet, writer of the Roman de Fergus
William the Clerk of Normandy (fl. 1210/1211–1227/1238), Norman cleric and Old French poet
William of Auxerre (died 1231), French theologian

Other

William (marcha orientalis) (died 871), Margrave of the March of Pannonia, part of the Carolingian Empire
William (archbishop of Mainz) (929–968), German bishop, son of Emperor Otto the Great
William of St-Thierry (died 1148), theologian and mystic, abbot of St. Thierry
William of Moerbeke (1215–1286), Flemish bishop, translator of philosophical, medical, and scientific texts

Modern era

Several people

William Adams, several people
William Andrews (disambiguation), several people
William Ash (disambiguation), several people
William Barry (disambiguation), several people
William Beckett (disambiguation), several people
William Bell (disambiguation), several people
William Boyd (disambiguation), several people
William Campbell (disambiguation), multiple people
William Davis (disambiguation), several people
William Douglas (disambiguation), several people
William Duane (disambiguation), several people
William Fuller (disambiguation), several people
William Gay (disambiguation), several people
William Harrison (disambiguation), several people
William Kelley (disambiguation), several people
William King (disambiguation), several people
William Lee (disambiguation), several people
William Long (disambiguation), several people
William Moses (disambiguation), several people
William Mullins (disambiguation), several people
William North (disambiguation), several people
William Price (disambiguation), several people
William Prince (disambiguation), several people
William Rice (disambiguation), several people
William Richardson (disambiguation), several people
William Rush (disambiguation), several people
William Shaw (disambiguation), several people
William Smith (disambiguation), several people
William Swift (disambiguation), several people
William Wales, several people
William Wegman (disambiguation), several people
William White (disambiguation), several people
William Wolf (disambiguation), several people
William Wolfe (disambiguation), several people
William Wolff (disambiguation), several people
William Wood (disambiguation), several people
William Woods (disambiguation), several people
William Wright (disambiguation), several people
William Wyatt (disambiguation), several people

Others

William Henry Aldis (1871–1948), English Protestant missionary
William "Jock" Alves (c. 1909–1979), Rhodesian physician and politician
William Amaral de Andrade (born 1967), Brazilian football manager and former centre-back
William Ayache (born 1961), French footballer and manager
Bill Beagan (born 1937), Canadian ice hockey administrator
William Ball (suffragist) (1862–1???), British workers union member who supported women's suffrage
William Sperry Beinecke (1914–2018), American philanthropist and businessman
William Bradford Bishop (born 1936), American former U.S. foreign service officer accused of killing his family
William Bonin (1947–1996), American serial killer and rapist
William Bonner, Brazilian newscaster and journalist
William H. Bonney, alias of American outlaw Billy the Kid
William Bradford (1946–2008), American murderer
William M. Branham (1909–1965), American Christian preacher
William Bridgeo, American politician
William Byron (racing driver), American NASCAR driver
William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925), American orator and politician
William Burke and William Hare (Burke 1792–1829; Hare unknown), Irish serial killers
W. Sterling Cary (1927–2021), American Christian minister
William Cassels (1858–1925), British Anglican missionary bishop
William T. Cefalu, chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association.
Bill Clinton (born 1946), 42nd president of the United States
William Cooper (1943–2001), American writer, radio host, and political activist
William Crosfield (1838–1909), British politician
William Dar (born 1953), Filipino horticulturist and government administrator
Peduru Hewage William de Silva (1908–1988), Sri Lankan Sinhala Marxist politician
William Herschel (1738-1822), German born British Astronomer
William De Vecchis (born 1971), Italian politician
William DeVizia (born 1969), American actor
William "Jack" Dempsey (1895–1983), Irish Native-American boxer and World Heavyweight Champion
William J. Donovan (1883–1959), American soldier, lawyer, intelligence officer and diplomat
William Duckworth (1943–2012), American composer, author, educator and internet pioneer
William S. Edings (1857–1927), justice of the Territorial Supreme Court of Hawaii
William Lukens Elkins (1832–1903), American businessman, inventor and art collector
William N. Ethridge (1912–1971), chief justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi
Gilberto William Fabbro (born 1977), Brazilian football attacking midfielder
William Faulkner (1897–1962), American writer
William R. Federici (1917–2009), chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court
William José de Assis Filho (born 1933), Brazilian football defender
W. A. Fry (1872–1944), Canadian sport administrator and newspaper publisher
William de Asevedo Furtado (born 1995), Brazilian football right-back
Bill Gates (born 1955), American businessman and philanthropist
William Glasser (1925–2013), American psychiatrist
William A. Goff (1929–2019), judge of the United States Tax Court
William Gold (born 1996), British Twitch streamer, YouTuber, and musician known as Wilbur Soot
William Gopallawa (1896–1981), last Governor-General of Ceylon, first President of Sri Lanka
W. G. Grace (1848–1915), British cricketer
William Grigahcine (born 1986), French musician professionally known as DJ Snake
William "Yamyam" Gucong (born 1993), Filipino actor and comedian
W. G. Hardy (1895–1979), Canadian professor, writer and ice hockey administrator
William Randolph Hearst Sr. (1863–1951), American businessman, newspaper publisher and politician
William Randolph Hearst Jr., (1908-1993), American businessman and newspaper publisher; son of William Randolph Hearst Sr.
William Heinecke (born 1949), American-born Thai businessman
William Higinbotham (1910-1994), American physicist.
William Holden (1918–1981), American actor
William Hurt (1950–2022), American actor
William Ismael (born 1989), Brazilian professional footballer
William M. Ireland (1???–1891), American, one of the founders of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
William H. Jacoby (1841-1905), American photographer
João William Alves de Jesus, (born 1996), Brazilian football defender
William Katt (born 1951), American actor
William Kunnecke (disappeared 1919), American fugitive
William Lai (born 1959), Taiwanese politician
William LeMassena (1916–1993), American actor
William LeMessurier (1926–2007), American structural engineer
William L. Leverette (1913–2003), American World War II flying ace
William Lindstedt, (fl. 2022), American politician
William Michael Lynn (born 1958), American academic
William MacDonald (1924–2015), English serial killer
William Bandara Makuloluwa (1922–1984), Sri Lankan musicologist, author, and director
William P. Marontate (1919–1943), American World War II flying ace
William McKenna (politician) (born 1946), American politician
William McKenna (actor), Australian actor
William McKinley (1843–1901), 25th president of the United States
William McMahon (1908–1988), 20th prime minister of Australia
William McNamara (born 1965), American actor
William Ephraim Mikell (1868–1944), American legal scholar and lawyer
William Millward (1822-1871), American politician
William Ntoso, Ghanaian member of parliament
William Nylander (born 1996), Swedish ice hockey winger
William (footballer, born 1968), full name William César de Oliveira, Brazilian football midfielder
William Pepper (1843-1898), American physician and Provost of the University of Pennsylvania
Galappatti Kankanange William Perera (1884–1956), Sri Lankan lawyer, educator, diplomat
William Phipps (1922–2018), American actor and singer, best known for performing the voice of Prince Charming from Disney's Cinderella
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham or William Pitt the Elder (1708–1778), British statesman and prime minister
William Pitt the Younger (1759–1806), British statesman and prime minister
William H. Quealy (1913–1993), judge of the United States Tax Court
Don William Rajapatirana (fl. 1930s–1960s), Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka from 1959 to 1967
William Rawle (1759-1836), United States Attorney for Pennsylvania
William Redmond (died 1980), American murder victim
Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorous social commentator
William Ronckendorff (1812-1891), United States Navy officer
William Arthur Conceição dos Santos (born 1982), Brazilian football striker
Toby Sexsmith (William Raymond; 1885–1943), Canadian politician and ice hockey administrator
William Shakespeare (1564–1616), English poet, playwright and actor
William Ruto, 5th and current President of Kenya
William Shatner (born 1931), Canadian actor
William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–1891), American Civil War General
William Crapon Sibley (1832–1902), American business executive
William E. Simon (1927–2000), 63rd United States Secretary of the Treasury
William South (1866-1938), photographer and inventor
William Júnior Salles de Lima Souza (born 1983), Brazilian football striker
William Gerald Strongman (1936–2021), Canadian politician
William Howard Taft (1857–1930), 27th president of the United States (1909–1913)
W. F. Taylor (1877–1945), founding president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
William Tennekoon, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka from 1967 to 1971
William Yan Thorley (born 2002), Hong Kong marathon swimmer
William Alfred Tilleke (1860–1917), Ceylon-born Siamese lawyer, entrepreneur and aristocrat
William Warren Vernon (1834–1919), British noble and scholar
William Villeger (born 2000), French badminton player
William Wei (born 1987), Taiwanese singer-songwriter
William Wilberforce (1759–1833), British politician, philanthropist and abolitionist
William Wilson (born 2001), Australian footballer
William Wordsworth (1770–1850), English poet
Bill Wurtz (born 1989), American musician, song writer, music producer, voice actor, video editor, and animator
William Butler Yeats (1865–1939), Irish poet
William Zabka (born 1965), American actor