List of people named William

William is a masculine given name which may refer to:

Fictional characters

 * 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 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 Riker, first officer on the Enterprise-D in the Star Trek franchise
 * 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
 * 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, 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

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 (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-?), 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
 * 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 (? – 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 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