We used a name to honour my FIL (but changed the spelling) so he is moaning that we might as well not have bothered. Should I change it?

[ConfusedAsEver]

I'm actually upset/annoyed. My FIL has an okay name (I don't love it, but we used my dad's name for DS1, so didn't mind using it) however both DH and I hate the way his dad's name is spelt, it's a 'unique' spelling.

So we used the original spelling. He is very annoyed claiming it's a completely different name and is giving DH a hard time about him preferring my dad and letting me walk all over him

Now I don't even want to use the blinking name!! WIBU to change the name? (Our son is registered btw)

Tell him the registrar pointed out a few spelling errors.

I'm agog at Whillyam.
OP YANBU :)

Is that a foreign spelling of William or just a made up spelling?

YANBU (unless it's the traditional way of spelling the name in Spain for example, and you've essentially offended the whole of his village )

William is a very nice classic name, whillyam is just ridiculous!!! Yanbu at all. Either keep William or change it completely. He can't expect you to inflict that shocker of a spelling on your ds.

What does your OH say ? does hes want to change the spelling or change it to something completely different? I personally like the name William - that spelling though :D BUT if I was in your situation i would be tempted to change it to something completly differentx

I love this thread.

Yammy
Hilly
Whilly

It my view that honouring someone's name but changing it a bit is so insulting it's better not to bother.

That said...Whillyam? What the actual?

Maybe he doesn't want to be the only Whilly around...

grasps at straws

Whillyam would definitely become Willy Ham on the playground. No child can be saddled with that!

If FIL doesn't like you using the correct spelling, then tell him you'll change it to .... because that's the name you actually liked. If he still doesn't shut up, then change it. You wouldn't want your DS named after such an arse anyway.

Does he aspirate the 'wh' so it's (deep breath) Hwhillyam?

If you want to be tactul you could say you feel that this is unique to him and you didn't feel it appropriate to borrow it.

and you're damned if you want your DS taking after him anyway

It my view that honouring someone's name but changing it a bit is so insulting it's better not to bother.

But they haven't changed the name. Its still exactly the same name, said exactly the same way but spelt correctly!

Hahaha we have a William in the family , we used to sing a whole song along the lines of ham willy ham willy...willy ham, this reminded me! William is a great name, stick with it, whoever is responsible for that abysmal spelling should be ashamed, and that your father in law would try to inflict it on a small child is cruel and unusual punishment. YANBU ignore him!

That's an....unusual spelling.

It's not the normal spelling in another language or something is it

I was already to say YWBU. Then you revealed his "unique" spelling

Thank goodness you're sensible. Wtf did he get that sleeping from?

Whillyam is obviously a bit silly at the least, but by deciding to use the name and respell it you have probably insulted your FIL. It's not his fault his parents went with such an odd spelling, but it is his name. The baby has an almost but not quite the same name.

On the other hand his reaction is very childish, competing with your dh's father is very weird. Naming children after relatives is a bit tricky though, and while my dd is named after two of her great-grandmothers I'd not name anyone a name I didn't love or after someone who was still alive.

I'm guessing that DH's grandparents were either "quirky" or illiterate?

You were definitely right to change the spelling.

I've never been so sure in all my life that you anbu

His spelling is definitely unique but I agree with him that it isn't honouring him if it's spelt differently.
I have a nephew with an unique spelling (refers back to his grandfather's Eastern European heritage) if someone was named after him but used the English spelling I'd be Despite the pronunciation, they are different names.

Well, he's not honoured, so feel free to change it if you'd prefer something else. Perhaps you could compromise by choosing Whillyam as a middle name? You may have to do it by deed poll.

He doesn't seem to be the only Whillyam