Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Would William get Willy?

36 replies

blueberrymoon · 11/04/2011 23:31

Do you know any Williams under the age of 50 who get called Willy?

Prove my DH wrong! This nn is putting him off the name William (which I have a sudden crush on), but I really don't think anyone would shorten it to Willy?? Am I wrong..?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Kandinsky · 11/04/2011 23:33

All the William's I know are nicknamed Will or Bill.

IHeartKingThistle · 11/04/2011 23:39

I've taught lots of teenage Williams and Wills, but never, ever a Willy.

HTH Smile

notanumber · 11/04/2011 23:40

Surely that depends on both his attractiveness and sexual orientation?

SolarPanel · 11/04/2011 23:43

I know various Williams. One was a Bill, the rest were Will or William.

mrsfollowill · 11/04/2011 23:56

I know a Bill (was Billy until a teenager) and a Will (early 20's) - I think it's a great name Grin If he ends up in a 'serious' job in later years William has a ring to it I think!

notanumber · 11/04/2011 23:57

YY, it's very versaltile.

My friend Billy had a ten foot willy
And he showed it to the girl next door.
She thought it was a snake
So she hit it with a rake,
And now it's only two foot four.

Original poster
blueberrymoon · 12/04/2011 00:11

Thank you notanumber Wink

Well, he (this is hypothetical future DS) would be little brother to Oliver. Do you think 'Oliver' and 'William' have a similar feeling?

OP posts:
notanumber · 12/04/2011 00:13

They go well together, yes.

It's a nice name, I like it.

Oliver and William, Olly and Will....

Plonkerr · 12/04/2011 00:17

I know lots of Williams (I adore this name!)

They are all Will, Bill or Billy.

The only Willy's I have heard reference to are Willy Carson and of course, Free Willy Wink

Original poster
blueberrymoon · 12/04/2011 00:26

Thanks Plonkerr - this is good to hear!

Oliver is Ol, not Olly, so it would (hopefully) be Ol and Will :)

OP posts:
SkinittingFluffyBunnyBonnets · 12/04/2011 00:31

I know two Willams...one is 38 and the other is 10. The older one is simply William and they younger is Will.

sleepywombat · 12/04/2011 00:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chickchickchicken · 12/04/2011 00:35

the william i know was wills when a child, called will now he is an adult
i love the name

malibustac · 12/04/2011 00:36

young williams i know are billy or wills think they refuse to be called willy. But my dad is 52 and is willy/billy but we're in scotldand so its pronounced Wully

HarrietSchulenberg · 12/04/2011 00:38

I have a William who actually WANTS to be called Willy. He's Bill or William to me, but Will to his friends, or Willy if he can persuade them to call it him without them laughing themselves sick. He's 8.

blackeyeddog · 12/04/2011 00:41

NoNot Willy. Williams are Bill, Billy or Will. Is a good name.

Actually there is Willy Rushton of course.

ResurrectionByChocolate · 12/04/2011 00:49

He might get called Willy, not like it, and not be able to prevent it.

burntsienna · 12/04/2011 01:07

Yes, I know at least a couple of blokes under 50 called Willy, or Willie. More if you count Germans! Smile No one thinks anything of it, no silly jokes, people just accept it. There are plenty of them about.

Iggly · 12/04/2011 07:22

We call DS William as do most people. The odd person calls him Will but no Willy (yet!)

BuntyPenfold · 12/04/2011 10:06

Yes, he will be called Willy in the playground. Obvious tease.
Called Willy on paper, probably not.

ChicksalinaBumSquash · 12/04/2011 10:07

All the Williams I know are Will. Smile

jellybeans · 12/04/2011 12:20

My friend calls her son Willy for short. He is 9.

fallingandlaughing · 12/04/2011 18:19

Willie/Wullie a possibility in Scotland.

flopsy1974 · 12/04/2011 18:36

I have a William and he has never been called Willy. He is called either William or Will.

pongonperdy · 12/04/2011 19:27

Dont know any Willys. However i know about 15 williams under the age of 6. It is very common at the moment, as is Oliver. Depends if that bothers you.