Richard and William

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Would anyone be put off the names Richard and William because they could be shortened to Dick and Willy (i.e. RUDE words)?

I'm keen to use Richard but SIL was adament any futer DS would be called Dick if I did...

Yes, especially Willy in the UK. There is a little William in ds's class (6 year olds) and he DOES get called Willy a lot....

Not sure the word Dick is that common in the UK, is it?

William - I'd avoid for that reason.

Richard - can be shortened to Richie, which is lovely.

Both are rude words. Most Williams are not shortened, I know several Rich and Ricks (but it is an older name).

YES!!!! Very commonly used IMO
Wouldn't put me off though if you like it?
My DS is Gabriel and lots of folk said "ooo he'll be picked on and called gay" - but my view is that if kids want to blly/pick on a child they will always find something!!!

I know plenty of Williams in the UK and none are known as Willy.

My DP is a Richard - he got teased a bit with Dick at school, but I don't think that NN is as well known nowadays is it?

William - too close to Will/Willy imo.

Richard - I think Rick or Richie are more likely nicknames. Dick doesn't really follow from Richard imo.

Oooh good - can put Richard back on the potential names list.... Ta

I've met a lot of people with these names over the years and they've never had the rude nicknames you mention AFAIK.

I've known several children called Richard and if they've had any nicknames, it's been Rich or Richie or Rick or Ricky.

Likewise, William - all the young ones I know, are called Will for short.

Nope, both a good strong names and the nickname thing wouldn't put me off.

Love William but DH said no.

My couisin is a William, nickname Wynn. Lovely.

Will and Rich - with the odd Willy & Dick thrown in - not bad enough to not be used - although if you type "Rich" into predictive text it comes out as "Shag". My best mates OH is now known as "Shag"

I don't know any Richards or Williams called Willy or Dick!

Both lovely names.

Williams are a dime a dozen so the nn Willy clearly isn't putting all those parents off.

Dick as a nn for Richard is a good generation out of date - I wouldn't worry about that either. :)

I have a William and his name is shortened to Will. No one has ever called him Willy.
Richards are likely to be Richie or Rich.
Pick the name you like - don't worry about it.

My DH is called Richard and has NEVER had his name shorted to Dick. It is occasionally shortened to Rih, but through school it never was. In his school the boys all called each other with nn or surnames.

My friend's 4y DS is called William and his name is sometimes shortned to Will; never Willy.

Little boy in Y2 called Will, never Willy. Plus have a Y3 boy called William, who's name is never shortened.

Would never be put off either name for those reasons TBH, as my experience is that they are rarely shortened in this way.

NO, NO, NO!!! My hubby is Richard and he has always been just that. I call him Rich sometimes and I guess someone could call him Dick to wind him up but they never have!

My dad is William and was Billy as a child and then Bill. I only realised recently that it can also be shortened to Liam - just a thought if you like that!

I do know a Richard (early 20s) who sometimes uses the nn Dickie - but his choice, and I think he does it in an ironic retro kind of way.

Otherwise, know plenty of Richards, generally shortened to Rich or Richie. Ditto William - Bill/Billy/Liam/Will all good everyday names.

QOD: that explains a lot about a Richard I knew many moons ago.....

I like both names, and doubt there'ud be an issue with awkward nicknames.

My son is a William. In fact he is William Robert, or as my MIL pointed out BillyBob! Didn't put me off though as both names were incredibly important to me and DH. (My late grandfather and DH's friend who died at the age of 19). No-one has ever called him Willy, but then he's only 2 so has not encountered school yet.

My dh is a Richard and he gets called Dicker by friends. He is never a Rich, yelch I hate the nn Rich!!

I like Richard and think that the obvious short form is Richie.

If you like Henry or Charles, you're not going to worry that the names Hank or Chuck will be used.

I love BillyBob (as a nn)