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Baby names

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

Will Young

37 replies

Gobletoffire · 28/02/2019 12:33

Hi all. Our DS is due in two weeks! I always wanted William as baby’s first name due to how significant it is in our family, it was my father’s middle name and the name of both my grandfathers. It was also the name of DH’s much loved grandfather. The problem is our surname is Young, so I know that everyone would associate this with pop idol winner Will Young and it has put us off.
So we’ve decided on a different first name for DS which we both love, and William as the middle name instead. But DH has now told me still can’t get past the ‘Will Young’ thing, even with William as a middle name! He says as much as he wants to use the name he thinks people will still make the Will Young association.

So what I’m asking is, if we introduced our baby to you as being ‘Reuben William Young’ would you still make the Will Young association or not think anything of it? It doesn’t bother me but it’s bothering DH. He says if it really means that much to me then to use it as a middle name but I don’t feel comfortable doing that if he isn’t happy with it. Thanks x

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Skyejuly · 02/03/2019 21:43

I wouldn't think of him at all

NameChange30 · 02/03/2019 19:01

@NameChangeNugget wins the thread 😂

OP I think Reuben William Young is a beautiful name. I love the name Reuben and no one will bat an eyelid at William as a middle name.

Disfordarkchocolate · 02/03/2019 18:55

William Henry Young then shortened to Will Henry solves all your problems.

BikeRunSki · 02/03/2019 18:53

I wonder which one. As I said, it’s a girl’s name, spelt exactly the same.

BikeRunSki · 02/03/2019 18:52

One of you is right, @Swisty and @GraceMarks.

GraceMarks · 02/03/2019 17:57

I was thinking Alice Cooper!

Switsy · 02/03/2019 17:14

@BikeRunSki are you called Gene/Jean Simmons?

ConfCall · 02/03/2019 17:12

I like Will Young - I've caught his excellent radio show a couple of times - but he won't be culturally significant to your DC's age group and he's not a huge star anyway.

BikeRunSki · 02/03/2019 14:44

Is Will Young really still that well known? I share a name with someone* who was/is a lot more famous than Will Young. It gets remarked upon occassionally, we move on... It’s really not a problem.

*US shock rock singer. Black make up. Girls name (stage name). Not Marilyn Manson.

MikeUniformMike · 02/03/2019 14:33

Just call him William. You could call him Billy if Will bothers you. Your son's age group won't know who Will Young is.

Bumblebeesmum · 02/03/2019 10:18

People barely remember him now let alone by the time your child gets to secondary age where they’d care. I’d use William anyway but definitely no issue with it as a middle name.

Sessy19 · 02/03/2019 09:38

If you’re REALLY anti Will Young, I can understand how it might become an issue. But of all the (semi) famous people out there, creating headlines, Will Young is definitely not a horrific association, regardless. Or have I missed something? He’s a good looking, successful (more successful than me, at least! 🤪) couple-of-hit-records bloke, he’s done a load of charity stuff, he’s nice to his mum...!!

It’s not like you’re suggesting John ‘Ozzie’ Osbourne, King of Darkness, or Pete Doherty....

JustAnotherMillennial · 02/03/2019 08:49

He is not that famous now, I would make the connection but I was pre teen and was a strong supporter of Will lol. Dare I say it Gareth Gates seems to be in the public eye more than Will these days.

AuntMarch · 02/03/2019 08:13

I would use it as the first name and shorten to Billy (I like Billy so would do that anyway)

Jessabean · 01/03/2019 22:16

I wouldn't worry about it as a middle name. Will be so few times his full name will be read out like that anyway. Would make me think of it as a first name though I'm afraid & not sure how long it would take for it to not be a thing/association in people mind generation wise.
If you're worried you could use an abbreviated form of William, maybe as middle name to still get the meaning e.g Bill, Billy though don't think is as nice as William in my opinion.

Gobletoffire · 01/03/2019 09:26

Thanks everyone! 😄

OP posts:
Keewee27 · 28/02/2019 22:32

I know a guy called Phil Collins. People make passing comments about his name the first time they here it but after that nobody notices.
Also, nobody has ever commented but my dp is called John and ds is Edward.....Jedward?!
Call him William, it's a great name.

RayaJambalaya · 28/02/2019 19:38
Grin
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 28/02/2019 19:33

Yeah you're righ, Rays. I'm a scouse girl.Grin

RayaJambalaya · 28/02/2019 19:08

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

Lol I'm sure I remember seeing you say your in Liverpool like me.. I know a Robbie Williams, a Bob Marley and a James Bond 😂😂😂

Runningbutnotscared · 28/02/2019 19:08

I went to school with a David Niven. David Niven! One of the greatest actors of all time, and no one batted an eyelid.
Of course at 12 not many of use new about him, I remember my dad raising an eyebrow, but that was it.
All power to his parents, they liked the name and they went for it.
As pp said, as much as I like will young, I doubt he’ll be going strong in 20 years, and he’ll certainly not be appealing to a teenage crowd who would tease your son.

Sakura7 · 28/02/2019 19:06

Go for it as a first name, seriously. By the time he's growing up, nobody will remember the singer. I think it would be really sad to not use the name you love because of this.

There's very little chance anyone will pick up the connection as a middle name, but if they did, so what?

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 28/02/2019 19:00

I would have William Young. It’s finr imo.

NameChangeNugget · 28/02/2019 18:57

If anyone jokes about it, ask them to Leave Right Now

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 28/02/2019 18:56

William is a popular first name. Young is a common surname. Odds are there are thousands of William Youngs out there.
Plus I as a teen I dated a Robbie Williams and DD went to school with a Michael Jackson. My dad had a friend well more of an acquaintance named Gordon Brown.Grin