Vilmos

Vilmos is a masculine given name used in Hungary and among Hungarian-speaking communities. It is the Hungarian form of Wilhelm, the Germanic name that became William in English. The name traces to Proto-Germanic roots, with elements meaning “will” and “helmet,” and it is commonly interpreted as “resolute protector.”

In Hungarian naming practice, Vilmos has a long historical presence and remains in use today, though it is less common among younger generations than some other traditional names. A typical informal form is Vili.

Notable people named Vilmos include Vilmos Aba-Novák (1894–1941), a Hungarian painter associated with modernist and religious art, and Vilmos Zsigmond (1930–2016), a Hungarian-born cinematographer who worked primarily in the United States and won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for The Deer Hunter (1978).

The name Vilmos is cognate with related forms in other languages, such as Wilhelm, Willem, and William. Vilma is the feminine Hungarian form.