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Baby names

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

Original poster

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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Quintella · 28/02/2019 17:22

Will Young the singer seems to still be pretty famous almost 20 years (!) after his debut so may well be famous 20 years from now so I'd definitely avoid William as a first name. It would just be so tedious having the 1000th 'oh like that guy from...' comment. Absolutely fine as a middle name though.

RayaJambalaya · 28/02/2019 16:51

I know a guy called Robbie Williams. Made the connection initially but after that I stopped thinking of the pop singer and was able to separate him from the person I know.

HalfBloodPrincess · 28/02/2019 13:20

Wouldn’t have even remembered him tbh.

If it bothers you though could he go by Billy? Billy Young sounds great as a name

GraceMarks · 28/02/2019 13:16

PlasticPatty I know, right?! I had started to type "at least ten years" and then thought I would check on Wikipedia, which informed me he won it in 2002. Scary stuff.

On the subject of people with celebrity names, I actually know a woman called Jennifer Lopez, who is quite a bit older than the famous one and so was named long before JLo became a thing. She gets the occasional silly comment about Anaconda or whether she has her arse insured for $10m, but it is actually surprising how much of a non-issue it is generally. It's just her name. So if she can get away with it, I'm sure little Will Young won't have any problems.

PlasticPatty · 28/02/2019 13:09

Seventeen years! Has it? Dear me.

No, call the child Will Young. It's a far better name than many put forward on MN. Will Young it is.

Choccyhobnob · 28/02/2019 13:08

I think I'd barely make the connection with William as the first name unless you did shorten it to Will. Will Young isn't in the media that much anymore. I know a little James Martin, they're common English names so not really surprising to have more than one of them.

GraceMarks · 28/02/2019 13:05

I don't think Will Young is anything like as culturally significant as he used to be - it's been a 17 years since he won Pop Idol, and all I've heard of him doing in recent years is hosting a hip-hop slot on Radio 2. I would be surprised if any kids have heard of him at all in another few years. If you like the name, go for it!

Butterflycookie · 28/02/2019 12:48

No one is going to know who will young is when he grows up. If you love the name William then go for it! Will young isn’t that popular and I doubt many people would make a connection

BlueMerchant · 28/02/2019 12:43

It's unlikely Will Young is going to be a part of pop culture when your son is growing up and I don't think many would make a connection now. I think it's fine.
In a way you could say what if the next up and coming pop star is called Reuben Young? You just never know but I think William Young is fine

daisypond · 28/02/2019 12:38

I would never make the connection with the pop singer. I think it's completely fine, even as a first name. Especially if you call him William and not Will.

ColeHawlins · 28/02/2019 12:36

(Wouldn't make the connection, I mean.)

ColeHawlins · 28/02/2019 12:36

No I wouldn't . It's fine as a middle name.

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