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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

does the baby name we love go with our surname??

37 replies

BillysClaire · 28/07/2011 15:01

Hi everyone.

I am new on here, just trying to get some advise and peoples opinions on whether the baby name we love goes with our surname.
Our 2nd child is due in the autumn and we are having another boy :) We absolutely love the name William and always have but we are not sure if it goes with our surname, which is Billingsley.

honest opinions on the name William Billingsley...

Thank you

..so confused.. Confused

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bagelmonkey · 29/07/2011 13:40

For the number of times in your life that you use your full name, if he's a William when he arrives, I don't think it really matters what his surname is.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/07/2011 13:37

Sorry but I think it sounds really silly.

How about Wilfred?

BuntyPenfold · 29/07/2011 13:28

I think Bill Billingsly has quite a ring to it.

I know a couple of little Williams called Bill, so I do think children will know it as an abbreviation, if you are really going to mind.

seeker · 29/07/2011 12:41

Honestly, don't do it.

razzlebathbone · 29/07/2011 11:31

Would you consider just registering him as Will. That should reduce chance of him being called Billy.

SoupDragon · 29/07/2011 10:18

Seeker, I am passionately against saddling a child with a ridiculous name yet I think Billy Billingsley works.

And I speak as someone who grew up with a daft rhyming name which caused me lots of heartache until I married out of it.

proudfoot · 29/07/2011 09:04

I love William. I see why you are hesitating because of the Ls but I think it would be do-able.

Jacob Billingsley sounds great and flows well - a really nice name - but I love William more!

TheSecondComing · 29/07/2011 07:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

otchayaniye · 29/07/2011 07:52

But I do also really like William.

otchayaniye · 29/07/2011 07:51

Henry or George or Arthur would go.

But I agree about overthinking. Sometimes you've just got to go with it. They grow into their names and think about how often and in what settings you are actually called both your names out loud.

seeker · 28/07/2011 22:18

Or character forming...........

zippy539 · 28/07/2011 18:58

Another vote for Billy Billingsley - fab name, really characterful. :)

pilates · 28/07/2011 18:56

Do you think young children will know that William can be shortened to Billy?

I don't.

I think if your family and friends make a conscious effort to let people know he is a William/Will it will not be shortened.

My niece is a Katherine and no one has ever called her anything else.

whostolemyname · 28/07/2011 17:55

I like it OP, if you both like it, go for it!

SoupDragon · 28/07/2011 17:24

People most likely won't call him Billy if you've introduced him as Will. They may say "oooh! Billy Billingsley!" when first introduced I guess but, actually, that doesn't sound too uncool :)

seeker · 28/07/2011 17:23

Henry.

Original poster
BillysClaire · 28/07/2011 17:20

ooh thank u..yeah i am liking that too.

i like jacob william billingsley / jake william billingsley

and quite like harry james billingsley too???

OP posts:
iklboo · 28/07/2011 17:13

Jacob/Jake sounds lovely
Sam & Jake Billingsley....Smile

InstantAtom · 28/07/2011 17:11

Jacob William Billingsley sounds great :) and Jake for nickname is also very nice.

Original poster
BillysClaire · 28/07/2011 16:54

love thomas too but its my nephews name.
what do u think about jacob/jake?
maybe jake william or jacob william?

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 28/07/2011 16:51

it's fine. I think people overthink names "going" far too much. Once you put them together and get used to them they "go" whether you liek it or not.

scarlettlips · 28/07/2011 16:49

IMO too many I's and L's...It's just a bit of a mouthfull all together. We have the same problem with our surname and the name was William too!

What about Thomas/Tom??

princessdave · 28/07/2011 16:39

Like and like BillysClaire!

Original poster
BillysClaire · 28/07/2011 16:26

how about Jacob/Jake Billingsley?

or even Jacob William Billingsley?

OP posts:
princessdave · 28/07/2011 15:50

Alexander (Alex)
Robert (Bobby / Rob)