William Goodell (October 17, 1829 – October 27, 1894) was an American gynecologist from Philadelphia, best remembered for first describing what is now referred to as Goodell's sign.

[1] William Goodell was born in Malta, the son of missionary William Goodell,[2] and studied at William's College, Massachusetts and Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1854.

He then worked in general practice in West Chester until he was appointed Lecturer on Obstetric Diseases of Women at the University of Pennsylvania in 1870, and then Clinical Professor in Diseases of Women and Children in 1874.

[3] He was elected as a member to the American Philosophical Society in 1877.

[4] In 1882, he removed a 112 lbs ovarian tumor from a 31 year old patient, who weighted 75 lbs after the operation.