List of people named William explained
William is a masculine given name which may refer to:
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 "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
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 (–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
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
Cameroon
Other
- William I (disambiguation), multiple royals and nobles
- William II, multiple royals and nobles
- William III, multiple royals and nobles
- William IV (disambiguation), multiple royals and nobles
- 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, 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, Old French poet, writer of the Roman de Fergus
- William the Clerk of Normandy, 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 (1909–1979), Rhodesian physician and politician
- William (footballer, born 1967), full name William Amaral de Andrade, 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 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
- 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
- William (footballer, born 1977), full name Gilberto William Fabbro, Brazilian football attacking midfielder
- William Faulkner (1897–1962), American writer
- William R. Federici (1917–2009), chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court
- William (footballer, born 1933), full name William José de Assis Filho, Brazilian football defender
- W. A. Fry (1872–1944), Canadian sport administrator and newspaper publisher
- William (footballer, born 1995), full name William de Asevedo Furtado, 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 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 (footballer, born 1996), full name João William Alves de Jesus, 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
- Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorous social commentator
- William Ronckendorff (1812-1891), United States Navy officer
- William (footballer, born 1982), full name William Arthur Conceição dos Santos, 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 (footballer, born 1983), full name William Júnior Salles de Lima Souza, 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 (soccer, 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
See also
