Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Eoin or Billy for baby boy?

82 replies

PreggersWithBaby2 · 03/08/2024 10:20

Torn between Eoin or Billy. Which would you choose? I feel like Billy is growing in popularity which is turning me off slightly.

For some background, both names have been chosen in memory of family members. We have a daughter who has a dreaded name on mumsnet - a "shortened" name 😱😱😱 like Billy, so those style of names don't bother us and we won't be using William!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
FayCarew · 04/08/2024 19:24

ttps://medievalscotland.org/problem/names/iain.shtml

SpongeBobSquarePantaloons · 04/08/2024 17:12

MercyChant66 · 03/08/2024 15:30

In Scotland, the Eoin that I know is pronounced 'Ian'

Same here.

Original poster
PreggersWithBaby2 · 04/08/2024 17:08

The only Billy's I know are either teenagers or 45+ but I take it on board. I will not be using William!

OP posts:
RaraRachael · 04/08/2024 17:07

I don't really like Billy as an actual name as I'm a bit old fashioned about names. As @Notreat said, it's fine for a little boy but he might not like it later in life. My OH has a name like that and he's changed it himself over the years. Maybe if you called him William, he could be Billy when he's little then decide to call himself any derivation when he's older

Notreat · 04/08/2024 17:03

Definitely Eoin. My DH has a name with a similar vibe to Billy. Which was fine when he was a cute child but he hated it as soon as he was in his 20s and has done ever since. He calls himself something more adult sounding now but he hates it when he has to use his full name for official purposes.

Nn9011 · 04/08/2024 17:03

WickieRoy · 03/08/2024 10:33

I'm in NI and quite enjoying the idea of choosing between an Irish name and Billy. 🤣

I like Eoin better myself. Billy is fine though.

I also found it absolutely hilarious that it's Eoin and Billy 🤣🙈

RaraRachael · 04/08/2024 17:01

@WickieRoy it's similar here. I was a bit taken aback when I got an Ailie in my class but at least it saved the poor girl from being called Eyelid or similar if it had been spelled Eilidh 😆

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 04/08/2024 16:58

@MercyChant66

Yes I had a family member and that's how his family said it too, and that's going back 60+ years.
Actually he would have been born in the early 1920's in the Highlands.

WickieRoy · 04/08/2024 16:57

RaraRachael · 04/08/2024 16:54

Ian in Scotland,

Thank goodness I'm not a certified "dumbass" for thinking it was Ian! I have absolutely no idea how to pronounce most Irish names and wouldn't want to embarrass myself or the person by mispronouncing them

That's grand, no one expects non-Irish people to know unfamiliar Irish names! Some even have different pronunciations within Ireland depending on dialect. As long as you don't do the whole "unpronounceable jumble of consonants, naughty boy name, you've saddled your child with that name" thing often seen on MN, you're all good.

sunshineandshowers21 · 04/08/2024 16:56

Billy. Of course I’m totally biased though because I have a Billy… He’s ten and no one has ever called him William, or asked if his name was short for William.

RaraRachael · 04/08/2024 16:54

Ian in Scotland,

Thank goodness I'm not a certified "dumbass" for thinking it was Ian! I have absolutely no idea how to pronounce most Irish names and wouldn't want to embarrass myself or the person by mispronouncing them

weebarra · 04/08/2024 16:53

DH's DGF was Eoin, pronounced Ian - we're in Scotland!

Original poster
PreggersWithBaby2 · 04/08/2024 16:48

I still think Billy is nice too 🤣 the other spelling I had for Eoin was Eoghan (I'm Irish) but seeing as Eoin posed pronunciation problems I don't think the spelling Eoghan will make it any easier 🤣

OP posts:
Calliopespa · 04/08/2024 16:45

GoldenPombear · 04/08/2024 16:40

It gets mistaken for a snake and hit by a rake and now it's only four foot four... @Calliopespa

Oh that’s right! “My friend Billy had a ten foot willy. He showed it to the girl next door. She thought it was a snake, and hit it with a rake, and now it’s only four foot four.”

Still think Billy is cute …

GoldenPombear · 04/08/2024 16:40

It gets mistaken for a snake and hit by a rake and now it's only four foot four... @Calliopespa

Psychologymam · 04/08/2024 16:17

WickieRoy · 03/08/2024 10:33

I'm in NI and quite enjoying the idea of choosing between an Irish name and Billy. 🤣

I like Eoin better myself. Billy is fine though.

I really enjoyed this too! Personally would prefer Eoin too

WickieRoy · 04/08/2024 15:56

Calliopespa · 04/08/2024 15:49

I thought it was like “Ian.”

I think Billy is cute!

Show quote history

Ian in Scotland, Owen in Ireland afaik.

Calliopespa · 04/08/2024 15:51

Riapia · 04/08/2024 09:09

He showed it to the girl next door.

Show quote history

Then at some point doesn’t someone jump on it?

Calliopespa · 04/08/2024 15:49

MolkosTeenageAngst · 03/08/2024 10:32

I am obviously a dumbass as I wouldn’t know how to pronounce Eoin, I’ve never seen the name before. I’d guess it’s Irish and pronounced similar to Yo-in but wouldn’t be sure.

Anyway I like Billy.

I thought it was like “Ian.”

I think Billy is cute!

ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 04/08/2024 15:48

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 03/08/2024 10:23

I love Eoin but there are too many dumbasses in the world that don’t know how to pronounce it so I would say Billy

So I'm a dumbass for never having heard or seen this name before ? Don't you thing that's rude of you ?

PuddingAunt · 04/08/2024 15:45

I read Eoin as "yawn".
Not a fan of Billy - too much baggage!

RaraRachael · 04/08/2024 12:39

I'm in Scotland and there was an Eoin in our school and it was pronounced Ian. So I've always assumed that was how it was pronounced having never encountered it anywhere else

Bearcub01 · 04/08/2024 12:21

34and3 · 04/08/2024 10:36

Would he appreciate Billy as an adult without the choice to be William / Will / Bill/ Liam if he wanted?

If he’s been Billy since birth why would he ever want the option of being a William/Will/Liam. Billy is perfectly fine as an adult name.

FayCarew · 04/08/2024 11:08

@PreggersWithBaby2 , I don't get the MN view that names need to have 'options' either. If I was named on MN, I'd probably be Fabiana or something. Billy/Bill is plenty.

Original poster
PreggersWithBaby2 · 04/08/2024 10:55

34and3 · 04/08/2024 10:36

Would he appreciate Billy as an adult without the choice to be William / Will / Bill/ Liam if he wanted?

I really don't understand this! So many names only have one "choice".

Will Eoin grow up to an adult and wish he had a different name? Like I just don't get it

OP posts: