Etymograph

English

Willy

From Will + -y.

A compound of Will + -y

Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- ‘to choose, wish’

…

Proto-Germanic *wiljaną ‘to want’

Proto-West Germanic *willjan ‘to want’

Old English willan ‘to want’

Middle English willen ‘to want something’

English Will

Today it means

name A diminutive of the male given name William

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Willy