Guilherme

Guilherme is a masculine given name widely used in Portuguese-speaking countries. It is the Portuguese form of William, derived from the Germanic name Wilhelm, which combines wil- "will, desire" with helm- "helmet, protection," and is commonly interpreted as "resolute protector" or "strong-willed guardian."

The name is especially common in Portugal and Brazil and is found in other Portuguese-speaking communities around the world. Its continued use reflects long-standing cultural ties to the wider family of William-name variants across Europe.

Variants and cognates include Guillaume (French), Guillermo (Spanish), Wilhelm (German), Willem (Dutch), and Guglielmo (Italian). In English, related forms such as Willy or Bill exist. Guilherme also has regional nicknames and diminutives used in everyday speech.

Notable people named Guilherme are primarily from Brazil and Portugal and span fields such as sports, the arts, and public life. As a traditional and widely recognized name, Guilherme remains common in contemporary Portuguese-language naming practices.