William or Wilfred?

[boognish]

My partner and I couldn't really agree on any names for our boy (due Feb) at first, but I loved Will. For me it brings to mind thoughtful intelligent boys with nice hair. We could both tolerate William, and that got to be first preference, but now think Wilfred is good (we like the idea of calling him Wolfie for short).

Two big drawbacks for our fascination with the letter "W": 1. My surname begins with "W', if it all goes horribly wrong...

1. Half my family are Italian. Italians don't have a letter "W" and would have to pronounce his name as "Gwill" or "Gwilfredo" - curses!

Are we being silly?

Wilfred is a bit little-old-man -ish.

Definitely William. I really don't like Wilfred.

Wilfred is getting so popular. I know 4 born in the past 18 months. They all go by Wilfie; the new Alfie maybe? I think it will date.
William much more timeless.

Prefer William to Wilfred. Don't like Wolfie, it sounds like a pet's name.

I think the problem about the letter "W" is significant. Are there any other names you like?

Both may well get teased with Willy - this may not bother you, but be aware of it.

I love them both. Especially Wilfred.

I like Wilfred more but couldn't because of the Gw thing & little Willy nicknames.

Gwain perhaps?

William-can be shortened to Will.
Wolfie- please no.

Willy and Will are both unattractive nicknames imo. Can you imagine saying "Will, will you please..." .

I like Wolfgang nickname Wolfie.

Wilfred is bloody awful ..wolfie was the leader of the Tooting Popular Front

Wilf/Wolfie are much nicer than Will/Willy. To me, Will isn't a name, it is a noun/verb and will be teased with willy - silly schoolchildren cannot resist that one imo.

William defintely best - am biased as I have one , his NN is Bill though (after Grandad!)

My nephew is called William, it's a great name. He is called Will/Wills for short. I don't like Wilfred as much (sounds a bit weak-kneed, sorry).

Wolfie as a nn for Wilfred is a bit of a stretch because Wolfie is short for Wolfgang (great name) and how is Wolfie really any shorter than Wilfred? A Wilfred will likely end up being Will, Wilf or Freddie. Wolfie is an unnatural and (sorry again) slightly twee stretch.

As for your family, weell, Gwilfredo is actually very cute it's the sort of thing that makes family history, that they can't say the W sound and make it Gw sound instead (and add an extra "o"!) so I would embrace that difference affectionately.

Love Wilf! Love Wilfy!

Wolfie...nah.

Will/William is timeless classic but not very distinctive,..love Bill though 1973magpie!!

As a mother of a William who is always called Will waht can I say?
Love the name?!

All the Williams I know are called Bill (although my parents had a friend called Willie). You cold use Willoughby, Willis or Willard as alternatives.

SixtyFootDoll- me too.
A fine name .

I have a Wilfrid. Much prefer the 'id' to the 'ed' spelling. He is always Wilf. Know a couple of Williams who also get Wilf as a nn and much prefer it to Will.

I prefer Wilf to Will too.
Wilf is a proper name, whereas Will is a noun, a verb and just one letter away from Willy.

Rachel1970, it is also a last Will and testament, whereas the lovely Wilf is ALWAYS short for wilful (in my experience )

Same as SixtyFootDoll. I'm a mother of a Will/William.

Will when being good

William when being bad

William is a timeless classic name which you can't go far wrong with.

William.

I prefer Wilfred because it gives more nickname options: Wil, Wilf, Fred, Freddie

William is ok but I don't like Will or Willy much. Can you imagine saying "Will, will you..." .