Bill

Bill is an English given name that arose as a medieval rhyming nickname for Will, itself a short form of William, which derives from the Old High German name Willahelm, composed of the elements wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection). The shift from W to B was a common phonetic pattern in Middle English pet-name formation, producing pairs such as Will and Bill or Richard and Dick. The name gained widespread use across the English-speaking world and is associated with many prominent figures, including President Bill Clinton and entertainer Bill Cosby. Wilhelm, Willem, Guillaume, and Liam are among the cognates found across European languages.