william Bill?

[tigerthecat]

Why is William shortened to Bill?

[Quizmonster]

Names, like other words, are sometimes subject to change over time. In one case, the Latin 'Ricardus' became the Anglo-Norman 'Ricard'. That, in turn, was shortened to 'Ric(k)' and then was playfully altered to the rhyming form that opens with the letter �d'. The French 'Guillaume' gradually became 'Bill' in much the same manner.

[dzug]

W and V can be interchangeable as can B and V.