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Baby names

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

Baby name issue?

37 replies

Ballina1 · 04/06/2019 20:46

Hi. My husband and I are struggling to agree on a baby name we both like. We narrowed it down to one,William. However I have 2 slight issues but not sure if I'm over thinking it.

  1. Love the nickname will but hate willy. Do Williams tend to get called Willy?
  1. Also as my surname is Dixon, am I reading too much into kids teasing and creating Willy Dixon with the surname also sounding a bit rude (if you get what I mean as not sure I can say it here haha).

Or am I thinking the worse of kids these days?

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Tillygetsit · 06/06/2019 23:21

I like the suggestion of Liam. I know 2 teens and a 30 something Liam and he's my dentist. All really lovely.

tiramisu1 · 05/06/2019 18:49

My dads names is Willy. No one would ever take the piss out of him.

It's his name, not him, that could be teased, especially with a surname that includes Dick..!

KinderSurpriseBump · 05/06/2019 18:21

Sorry but not with your surname. He would be tortured in high school

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 05/06/2019 15:19

My dads names is Willy. No one would ever take the piss out of him.

Yes but was his last name Dixon.

Sorry op It's too penisy for my ears too. However I do have to admit.
I wouldn't have noticed if you'd not pointed it out. Therefore it might be a case of no one will take a blind bit of notice unless its pointed out.
I wouldnt chance it though. If it does bring a life time of teasing.
He probably won't thank you.

lavenderblues · 05/06/2019 14:53

If a kid is going to be subject to teasing, he will be subject to teasing.

True. But some names lend themselves more to teasing than others. And Willi(am) Dickson is one of those imo.

Sessy19 · 05/06/2019 14:39

Liam is AWFUL, the only ones I have ever known have been assholes. And it is not the same as William. It’s a totally different class. Yuk!

My dad is Willie. No one would ever take the piss out of him. He’s too lovely.

William is a hugely popular name, it’s unlikely to ever be the subject of just-name mockery. If a kid is going to be subject to teasing, he will be subject to teasing.

ErrantTesselation · 05/06/2019 14:37

Liam is a great idea. Too many phallic connotations otherwise.

TatianaLarina · 05/06/2019 14:31

I’d be surprised if he didn’t end up known as Willy Dick.

lavenderblues · 05/06/2019 14:22

Liam is a great suggestion.

Whoops75 · 05/06/2019 14:17

Use Liam otherwise back to
The drawing board.

TurquoiseAndPurple · 05/06/2019 14:09

Chris Peacock.... Took me a minute 😂😂😂

FizzyGreenWater · 05/06/2019 13:22

No!

Both names fine separately but please don't put them together, that is absolutely asking for trouble. It doesn't flow well anyway.

lavenderblues · 05/06/2019 11:31

I don’t think it ever gets shortened to Willy nowadays.

Probably not by adults (given the penis association), but by silly kids in the playground!

In any case, I wouldn't combine Will(y) with Dixon.

Pinkvoid · 05/06/2019 11:14

William’s in my DC’s school are just William, it doesn’t get shortened at all. I don’t think it ever gets shortened to Willy nowadays.

AdaShelby · 05/06/2019 08:28

I don't know any that get called Willy but Will Dixon is too penis like I think.

Malyshek · 05/06/2019 07:59

Or alternatively, why not William in another language ? Wilhelm, Guillaume, Guillermo...

Malyshek · 05/06/2019 07:58

Hey, why not use Liam ? It's very close to the name you both like and it's got not teasing potential.

tiramisu1 · 05/06/2019 07:43

William literally contains Willi. It's such an obvious teasing potential. But with Dixon I would definitely avoid the name.

I don't really like will as nickname as it's a verb (Will will you come...) or a noun (a will).

I guess Billy is cute but has little resemblance with William (Billiam Grin).

lavenderblues · 05/06/2019 07:12

No way! The willy dicks teasing potential is way too risky!

I don't like the sound of William (especially the Willi part).

ElfishBiatch · 05/06/2019 04:55

The possibility of teasing around the nickname Willy was enough to stop me using the name William as a first name, even though I love it.
There is absolutely no way that I would consider it at all with the surname Dixon.
He is the one who has to live with the name, not you. Don’t be cruel.

Whatareyoutalkingabout · 05/06/2019 03:54

Oohhh no! As a pp said, both names are fine alone but far roo penis-y together!

manicinsomniac · 05/06/2019 01:32

Unfortunately, yes, I think other children will make the link and call him Willy Dick

I knew a W-i-l-l-i-a-m W-i-l-l-c-o-c-k-s a few years ago. He sometimes used to get called Willy Willy Cock.

Similar issue.

Astronica · 05/06/2019 01:17

William is a great name and you might be able to avoid the nn Willy mostly, but I'm afraid other kids won't miss it. Sorry, but with your surname I wouldn't take the risk.

MikeUniformMike · 04/06/2019 21:12

John Thomas Dixon for DS2?

indigo13 · 04/06/2019 21:11

William and Dixon are fine separately but put them together and it's too penis-esque! Back to the drawing board 🙂