William is a masculine given name which may refer to:

• 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.

• Saint William (disambiguation), lists several saints named William

Ordered chronologically

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

• 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

Ordered chronologically

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• List of people named Liam