Would my son be teased/bullied for having this name?

[MrsMichelRouxJr]

Please help!! Expecting a little boy in a few short weeks.

William is the only name DH and I really love (we do like others - James, Noah, Henry, George but they're taken by close family members). We have considered Jacob, Joseph, Alexander, but whilst they're lovely names they just don't feel 'right'.

The issue is our surname. He would be William Waters. We're concerned that 'Willy Waters' would be a playground bully's dream.

What do you think? Are we over thinking it or would it be cruel to saddle our little boy with this?

Thanks for your help.

[SlinkyB]

I think you're overthinking it. We really struggled with our boys names, and I'm sure I discounted some lovely ones because of potential playground bullies.

You never know what bullies decide to pick on, so don't worry. If it's your favourite, go for it!

[slanleat]

I also think you are over worrying about it. for me it works. I like it .

[QueenMolotov]

Waters isn't the easiest name to put any forename with imvho. But Willy Waters seems like an avoidable joke to me. I would choose something else, sorry.

So James, Noah, Henry and George are out but you like Jacob, Joseph and Alexander? So far, so very lovely and traditional. How about:

Samuel Waters
Matthew Waters
Christopher Waters
David Waters
Andrew Waters
Philip Waters
Thomas Waters
Oliver Waters

[Lozza1990]

Children don't get bullied because of their names, if the child is prone to bullying then bullies may pick on him but no one is socially excluded and picked on purely because of their name, even 5 year olds. So if you like it, go for it. Just please don't call him 'Willy'

[roleypoley]

I think William Waters is nice. William shortened to Willy would be a bit unfortunate but doesn't seem too likely.

[ChipsandGuac]

I have a Will and he's never been called Willy in his life.

[Donge13]

I work in a school and over the15 years i have never heard children shorten William to willy... Will, wills, bully or w seem to be the thing,

[MrsMichelRouxJr]

Thanks for all your replies!

ChipsandGuac - it's not the William shortened the Willy thing on it's own that's a concern. I agree, I don't think many Williams are ever called Willy and teased for it, it's just that coupled with our surname it's more likely to get noticed and commented on. Same reason we can't have a Max Waters, Iris Waters, Scarlett Waters or Ruby Waters etc etc

Thanks for your suggestions QueenMolotov. I like Samuel and Oliver. Not nearly as much as William, but I'll run them past DH.

[Donge13]

Billy not bully

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I have a William we call Will who was teased and called Willy for about a week.mhe shrugged it off,,he wasn't called it again.

I don't think you need to worry about Willy, but does Will go?

Will waters run wild?
Will waters be cold?
Will water run without electricity?

[MrsMichelRouxJr]

We're hoping to refer to him as William (or Billy as a nn, rather than Will) for that reason.

I know we can't dictate what he chooses to call himself in later life though and what his friends might call him.

It's so hard to know what to do for the best.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I'd just go for it then. It sounds like you really love the name. And there is nothing wrong with William Waters or Billy Waters.

[Donge13]

Go for it, it is a lovely name

[wonderpants]

I worried about our surname, and in 11 years, no one has ever even commented what I worried about. They did come up with something different and my DD found it hilarious.
I think William Waters is fine!
And just raise a happy confident young man that can laugh at any such stupid joke!

[SpendSpendSpend]

I dont think william waters sounds right.

But then again i was just saying to dh yesterday that monica michael, mason noise and che chesterman sound ridiculous.

Why not just call him billy?

[Sunshine511]

I personally think, if you're finding a number of reasons that the name could be an issue, you'll probably find you'll feel more comfortable with another name once the baby arrives. You'll always have that little shred of doubt now with William. It is a lovely name if you do decide to go for it. School kids might notice the willy waters thing, or they might not. Even if they do, your little boy might not be overly bothered, or on the other hand, it could bother him. It's a difficult decision x

[villainousbroodmare]

I think the school bullies will leap upon it with glee. Sure, most Williams manage to avoid being called Willie, but they don't have the surname Waters! I reckon he'd be lucky to avoid a worse nickname. I'm sure you can imagine. There's quite a lot to choose from.

Generally when parents on here try to predict what some little tosser in the schoolyard might tease their child over, it's not so obvious. But to me, this one is an absolute clanger.
Much worse than Iris or Scarlett or Max.
Sorry.

Waters is such an elegant surname, it will work beautifully with your other choices.

[villainousbroodmare]

In fact, I don't think it'll just be a playground bully's dream. I think it'll be an office joke too.
"Some girl would giggle and I'd get red, some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head; life ain't easy for a boy named William Waters."

[Qwertybynature]

I wouldn't OP. I don't think you have to worry too much about school as such but when your ds is older and his mates conjure up a sophisticated nn based on Willy Waters. Make sure you raise him with an incredibly gsoh if you do!

[Only1scoop]

William is a lovely choice it didn't go too well though with Waters IMO
Willy Waters
Wilt etc

[BifsWif]

I agree with Villainous, and aside from that I don't think William Waters sounds right. I would consider another name, sorry.

[SirChenjin]

William is often shortened to Willie (or Wullie ) up here, and yes - a filed day would be had with Willie Waters
As long as he doesn't want to cross the border at any point he should be OK! Not sure William Waters 'sits' right though

[BikeRunSki]

Williams all seem to be nicknamed Will or Billy these days.

[JennyC520]

I don't think William Waters sounds funny. Will Waters is nice too!
If someone is going to get bullied, they'll get bullied no matter what. Parents should teach their kids not to bully anyway!
If you really love it, go for it. OR wait till baby comes and then see what he 'looks' like ad what would suit him.
I previously posted about a name my fiance and I love. The opinions were very 50-50. We're still set on it, but again, will see if it suits her when she arrives.

[hawkmcqueen]

I would avoid I am afraid. I would foresee he might get called Willy Waters as a joke, even if he is usually Will.