Will

Will is an English given name and short form of William, which derives from the Old High German elements wil, meaning desire or will, and helm, meaning helmet or protection. The name has been in use as an independent given name since the medieval period, carried by countless bearers of the full form William across European history. The poet and playwright William Shakespeare is often famously referred to simply as Will in biographical and popular contexts. Wil and Bill are among the related short forms, while Wilhelm, Guillaume, and Guillermo represent cognate forms in other languages.