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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names like William

36 replies

boysnameideasneeded · 26/11/2023 21:24

We’re having a boy and we both love the name William. We feel like we can’t use it because it’s used extensively as a middle name in both sides of the family. We haven’t totally decided against it but we’re struggling to think of other ideas to broaden the field. What other names do you like that have a classic feel like William? We’re not set on it being a super popular name, though William is at the moment.

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FayCarew · 27/11/2023 13:59

Just use William. It doesn't matter what the cousins' middle names are.
Wills & Kate's DC3's first name is a middle name of his brother and his father.

Necessitynamechange · 27/11/2023 09:33

James
Thomas
Joseph
Henry
Robert
Samuel

William nn Bill or Billy?

Love these names.

Bin85 · 27/11/2023 09:11

James
Oliver
Charles ( Charlie)
Sebastian
Nathanial
Edward
And a lot of the others already mentioned!
William is good but Wills not Willy

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 27/11/2023 00:13

William is a big family name in my tree.
The names surrounding it are
Joseph
Hubert
Hugo
Michael
Vincent
Nicholas
Patrick
Eugene
Edward (Ned)
Edwin

Ilotca · 27/11/2023 00:13

God if you like it just use it. It's so widespread now that it's kind of become a multi purpose name I think. Each William takes the name and makes it what they want it to be. It travels well, the French love it, it's a name that can bring you anywhere.

leccybill · 27/11/2023 00:06

Robin

Fifthtimelucky · 27/11/2023 00:03

I love William (it's one of my favourite boy names) but would avoid it if your surname begins with a C.

Names I think of as similarly classic are:

Edward,
James,
Richard
Charles,
Thomas

I know Williams with brothers called:

Robert
Jonathan (2)
Henry
Max

PosyPrettyToes · 26/11/2023 23:27

Arthur
Henry
George
Angus
Hugo

Pozz · 26/11/2023 23:15

Samuel
Christian
Christopher
Daniel
Oliver
James
Benjamin
Louis
Alexander
Thomas
Thor

Daisybuttercup12345 · 26/11/2023 23:14

I would use William.

Lifeinlists · 26/11/2023 22:39

Of course you can use William!

It's used as a middle name in the family so no one ever actually uses it, do they?! Even if they did you can still use it - but they don't.

You'll regret not using it if you choose something else.

lightelmqueen · 26/11/2023 22:35

If you love William then I'd use that. My son has William as a middle name (late paternal grandfather's name) and one of my nephews also has William as a middle name. My other sister always wanted to call her son William but worried that she couldn't use it as two nephews had it as middle names. She did use it in the end and no one thinks it's weird.

Although I do second pp and think Robert is a lovely name. Or maybe Philip

shockeditellyou · 26/11/2023 22:30

Meh, half of my son’s great grandfathers are called William! It’s a good name and a classic - he’s also the only one in his primary school at the moment.

PieAndLattes · 26/11/2023 22:28

(I’d avoid Andrew for a bit)

PieAndLattes · 26/11/2023 22:27

I love all these names. I have a Henry, and his friends are all called names like George, Nicholas, David, William, Thomas, Matthew and Edward. Robert is also a fine name, as is Richard. All good strong names.

OccasionalHope · 26/11/2023 22:22

Alexander
Frederick
Lawrence
John
Andrew
Henry
Philip
Francis
James
Adam
Simon
Richard
Robert

DaizenShine · 26/11/2023 22:20

Liam? Short for William

ThelmaBorden · 26/11/2023 22:07

Oganesson118 · 26/11/2023 21:32

My friend had a Robert because she wanted a strong traditional name. When she had her second I thought "I bet she calls him William" and so she did! So I'll suggest Robert.

Our boy is Robert William ! I too wanted a strong manly name and to acknowledge
our Scottish connection. William is his father’s name.
When son was wee he was Robbie, Robert! when he was in trouble, then self identifying Rob as a schoolboy, student, man.

William is a solid name too, means ‘resolute’

Doublebiscuit77 · 26/11/2023 22:04

I like William. Other 'classics' that are in fashion, more or less -
Edward
Edmund
Daniel
James
Adam
Alexander
Henry
Charles
Matthew
George
Robert
Christopher
Thomas
Benjamin
Samuel
David
Peter
Luke
Francis
Frederick
Oliver
Albert
Alfred
Wilfred
Arthur
Sebastian
Ralph
Joseph
Jacob
Louis
Duncan

(Not in fashion classics- Andrew, Anthony, Michael, Timothy, Simon, Richard, Roger, Malcolm, Philip, John, Jonathan, Paul, Martin, Mark, Stephen, Nicholas, Walter, Geoffrey, Gregory, Douglas)

threeisquiteenough · 26/11/2023 22:03

ThelmaBorden · 26/11/2023 21:28

William is a fine name - as is Robert

I have a 'William Robert... '

So very much in agreement ☺️

Arthursmom · 26/11/2023 22:00

Willem or Willis are alternatives to William we were considering

PelvicFloorClenchReminder · 26/11/2023 21:58

Ginger
Douglas
Henry

Mumofgirls2017 · 26/11/2023 21:54

George
henry
alexander
thomad
edward
oliver
jonathan
victor
michael
david
nicholas
christopher
peter
matthew
louis
leonard
joshua
jacob
zachary
theodore
franklin
frederick
charles
alastair

Vincent

Theoldwoman · 26/11/2023 21:53

Wyndham

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 26/11/2023 21:50

Humphrey

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