Just how popular is ...?

[Dovahkiin]

William? DH and I both love it, DD would have been called it, I like that's it's traditional and is the name of half of my historical heroes. However, we live abroad but will be moving to the South-East in the summer so I've no idea how popular it is. I've seen the statistics but don't know if little Wills are evenly scattered across the UK or clustered in a big pile just outside Tonbridge...

I am prepared to walk away from it if there will be more than one other Will in class. I was cursed with a v common 70s/early 80s name and there have always been at least two other girls with my name at every stage of my life. Middle name will be David so alternatives to William also gratefully received :)

[LCHammer]

Hello Sarah (or Claire or Louise). I only know a handful of little Williams. Lots of contact professionally with children. Nice name.

[clary]

William is a lovely name but it is popular. I teach secondary and there is one in most classes. My youngest DC is 10 so I am a bit hazy on much younger children but I reckon it has held strong for a while.

Ultimately you should go for a name you love

[ExcuseTypos]

I don't think it's very common with primary age children. I only know of one William under 11 and I work with children.

[BikeRunSki]

Office of National Statistics Baby NAmes data If you download the "Boys" spreadsheet, there are tables showing the top 10 names by region. William is no. 5 in the SE.

[EuellG]

William is a good name

[procrastinatingagain]

I only know 2, one is over 30 and the other lives in Australia.

[Flopsygrowsup]

In Ds 9 year there are 4 we are in the se. A few more at cubs, rugby and Spanish

[Dovahkiin]

Thanks everyone for the positive comments, and a useful link Bird - I think 800 out of 55,000 boys is manageable. Decision made, unless the new August statistics throw everything out :)

[mumbaisapphirebluespruce]

It is popular, but it is lovely. I know 3 under the age of 5 in my wider friends of friends/Facebook friends circle. They are all in London & South East area. It was one of our choices if DD had been a boy.

[LargeBustedMamma]

If I had a third child & it had been a boy, I would have called it William Frederick, nn Billy. We are in the south east and I don't know of any other young boys with this name however statistically it appears to be popular.

if you love a name does it really matter how popular it is? My two always had 2 or 3 others with the same name at senior school & it never bothered them. I on the other hand had a very unusual name & hated being different! Love my name now though.

[ShesARumUn]

I am in the South East and William is easily the most popular name where I live. It seems that every second boy is called William around here. It is a lovely name, so I can understand its popularity, but a bit too over-used for me.

[Nataleejah]

I have a William. Very popular, but certainly never wrong and never goes out of fashion. Good enough for royalty -- good enough for my child :)

[pommedeterre]

Dd1 in her nursery year and there are two in her class. Also know of two others the same age.

[EdithWeston]

I'd say there are two or three in each school year.

[Only1scoop]

Classic ....lovely

[Focusingkingqueen]

Never met one, it's definitely not used in our circles.

[missmagnum]

I live in the north west and don't know any under the age of 10. Definitely depends on where you live.

It's a lovely timeless name.

[Glasshammer]

I know two. An adult one in his 40's and a tiny new born. I know lots if folk

[MaxsMummy2012]

I work in a school in hertfordshire and we only have one william in the entire school in year 5 (so aged 9-10). If it's a name you love thengo for it.

[MaxsMummy2012]

That should of said he's in year 5.

[Misspilly88]

We have 3 Williams in my preschool class, nice name but v popular

[CPtart]

I live in the North West. DS 1 has two Williams in his year.
DS2 has one, and his own middle name is William.
Love the name. Popular is fine when it's a classy name.

[AmberDextrous]

Nice name but very popular & getting more so.