Guillermo

Guillermo is a masculine given name of Spanish origin. It is the Spanish form of William, itself derived from the Germanic Wilhelm, which is formed from wil meaning “will, desire” and helm meaning “helmet, protection.” The name was brought to the Iberian Peninsula through medieval contact with Germanic cultures and became established in the Spanish-speaking world as Guillermo. In other Romance languages, cognate forms include Guilherme in Portuguese and Guillem in Catalan.

Diminutives and nicknames include Guille; in some regions, Memo is also used as a given or affectionate form of Guillermo. The name is common in Spain and across Latin America, as well as in communities with Spanish heritage.

Notable people named Guillermo include Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro; Mexican football goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa; Argentine tennis player Guillermo Vilas; and Cuban dissident Guillermo Fariñas Hernández.

The name remains widely used in contemporary Spanish-speaking societies, reflecting historical naming patterns and cultural exchange.