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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:
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StormingNorman · 04/08/2024 10:40

Eoin Billy has a lovely ring!

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?

Riapia · 04/08/2024 09:09

GoldenPombear · 03/08/2024 15:41

My friend Billy had a 10 ft willy...

He showed it to the girl next door.

Bearcub01 · 04/08/2024 08:10

I think if anything people may ask if he is William on birth certificate, but surely no one just calls you William if you’ve said the name is Billy. I have a few friends called Nikki and sometimes people ask if they’re actually a Nicola, but no one would ever just call them Nicola.

Billie is top of my list for a girl.

Original poster
PreggersWithBaby2 · 04/08/2024 08:03

Bearcub01 · 04/08/2024 03:58

I like Billy and would never assume to call him William. Billy is becoming more popular as its own name. Wouldn’t choose Eoin unless you are Irish.

The more I think about it the more I am inclined to agree with you. If someone introduced themselves as Billy, who on earth would the person then call them William? 😅 as I said, my daughter has a shortened name (which is far more unusual than Billy) one stranger in a coffee shop was pretty persistent it must be short for something else, but I've never met anyone else who has questioned it. Thanks for your input!

OP posts:
penguinbiscuits · 04/08/2024 04:12

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

What a weird and an aggressive post. I don't know how to pronounce the name - I'm sorry I am unable to pronounce every single name in the world.

I'm sure you won't be able to pronounce Elizaveta properly but I will not judge you for that.

Bearcub01 · 04/08/2024 03:58

I like Billy and would never assume to call him William. Billy is becoming more popular as its own name. Wouldn’t choose Eoin unless you are Irish.

GoldenPombear · 03/08/2024 15:41

My friend Billy had a 10 ft willy...

MercyChant66 · 03/08/2024 15:30

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

SparkyBlue · 03/08/2024 14:27

I much prefer Billy but I'm in Ireland so lots of Eoins

Uberbeeboo · 03/08/2024 14:23

My son is Eoin and I love it. People do tend to pronounce it as Ian or Ewan when they meet him for the first time.

Moreteaandchocolate · 03/08/2024 14:14

I voted for Billy as I’m all for an easy life and it’s easier to spell / pronounce!

FayCarew · 03/08/2024 13:56

I know you won't but I said I would.

The reason that I said he'll be called William sometimes is because I know people with names like Mandy, Tony, Max, Jill, Vicky etc who get Ms A Surname, Mr A Surname, Maximilian, Jillian, Victoria, etc when it's not their name.

Original poster
PreggersWithBaby2 · 03/08/2024 13:23

Again, we will 100% not be using William. Only Billy is an option. Funny you think he may get called William. I'd never considered that! Although my daughter who has a shortened name has never gotten called any longer version of her name.

OP posts:
FayCarew · 03/08/2024 13:21

I know how to say Eoin but only because I asked, and I was quite surprised as I has expected it to be 'Ewan' or 'Ian'.

Billy might get called William.

I like both but would put William Eoin on the BC.

If your DC is something like Evie, Teddy or Reggie, then I'd put Billy on the BC.

shoopshoopdedoo · 03/08/2024 11:09

Eoin, 💯

Original poster
PreggersWithBaby2 · 03/08/2024 11:03

OldTinHat · 03/08/2024 11:02

William. Nn Billy.

Please see my OP where I specifically said we would not be doing this 😅

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 03/08/2024 11:02

William. Nn Billy.

Original poster
PreggersWithBaby2 · 03/08/2024 11:00

I pronounce Eoin as "Ooown" - one slightly drawn out syllable! Rather than oh-in which could be pronounced as 2 syllables! It is Irish yes.

No I'm not from NI 😅

OP posts:
Blubbled · 03/08/2024 10:51

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.

You're not that dumb because it is Irish, and Owen is the Anglicisation of it. Down here in Limerick/Tipp it's pronounced the same way as Owen is - Owwwn!
Definitely Eoin OP, Irish names are really popular now, not just in Ireland either and people are learning how to pronounce them, it's not hard once you know how!

Firsttimebabymummy · 03/08/2024 10:49

I prefer Billy

WickieRoy · 03/08/2024 10:49

Bideshi · 03/08/2024 10:45

I'd have thought Billy had sectarian connotations in NI? It certainly does in Glasgow. It would be nice to be wrong and to be told that NI is letting go of the past.

Show quote history

Exactly, that's what makes me laugh. Billy is sectarian one way and then Irish names very much the other side, that's why it amused me. I'm guessing OP isn't in NI. Grin

(So-called mixed marriages are very normal here these days but they're not likely to be picking Billy as a name I wouldn't imagine!)

Bideshi · 03/08/2024 10:45

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'd have thought Billy had sectarian connotations in NI? It certainly does in Glasgow. It would be nice to be wrong and to be told that NI is letting go of the past.

Spidey66 · 03/08/2024 10:43

I prefer Eoin myself.

To those who don't know how to pronounce it, it's the same as Owen.

Izzynohopanda · 03/08/2024 10:41

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.

Me to.