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Baby names

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

Original poster

William

30 replies

mouseanon · 16/04/2011 18:18

Do you think there will be lots of them this year? DH and I both like the name (minor miracle) but MIL thinks it will be very popular (presumably because of the wedding).

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Panzee · 16/04/2011 18:19

It's lovely. But then I don't care about how popular names are. You can have lots of nicknames too which will be better when he gets older.

SolarPanel · 16/04/2011 18:34

I think there will be the same number as usual. Some people will use it because they like Prince William. Others will avoid it because they think it's going to get too popular, so making it less popular!

ValiumBandwitch · 16/04/2011 18:39

I predict Bill will become massively popular soon...

pilates · 16/04/2011 18:40

Its a great name, go for it!
Also like Will as a nn.

CharlieCoCo · 16/04/2011 19:58

Will is becoming more popular where as before Billy was the 'known' nn. William has and always will be popular, its just the nn seems to varie in popularity, use to be Willy donkey years back, im waiting for Liam to become popular as a William NN :o

mayanna123 · 16/04/2011 22:12

William is ok but the nicknames Willy (inevitable on the playground) or Will (Will, will you... Grin) are not not nice at all imo. I honestly can't see why it would become popular (other than people copying the royal family).

BikeRunSki · 16/04/2011 22:20

I already know of one little boy due by elcs on 29th who will be called William. I'd imagine that there will be quite a few born in the next few weeks.

My DBro was born in the same year as Prince Andrew (but BEFORE him he would like to point out). By the time he went to uni, there were so many in his year he started using his middle name.

womma · 16/04/2011 22:23

Lovely name, fit for a king in fact!

hellokitty123 · 17/04/2011 09:52

Really dislike it, especially the inevitable shortenings Will, Willy or Billy. I don't understand the attraction - just because our future King is called this doesn't make it any nicer imo.

wfrances · 17/04/2011 09:56

my youngest is william,we wanted something normal to match the other children.i wanted to push the boat out and call him reuben as he would be my last baby,but nope..

randomimposter · 17/04/2011 10:00

Don't think it will make a difference. It's already a classic and popular name.

I have a William, named after someone, rather than me really loving the name. But he is a real little Billy, and probably a Will later on I suspect.

jetgirl · 17/04/2011 10:03

My William (3.5 yo) is very proud of his name. He is named after my late grandad and as yet, no-one has been idiotic enough to tease him. I've also taught a few teenage Williams and again never encountered any teasing.

zisforzebra · 17/04/2011 17:41

William is a great name but I'm biased Wink

rachel234 · 17/04/2011 20:17

Will (Will, will you please...) or Willy (inevitable playground tease) would put me off the name, sorry.

poppydaisy · 17/04/2011 21:20

It is already pretty popular round here. Personally I quite like it although I also don't like any of the nicknames (Willy, Will, Bill, Billy).

Original poster
mouseanon · 17/04/2011 21:56

Thank you for all the thoughts. We're a little dubious about the nicknames too so it may be back to the drawing board anyway.

I also like Edward but I'm dubious about the nicknames for that too.

My other 2 DCs have names that don't get shortened into nicknames so ideally I'd like that again but I'm struggling.

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SolarPanel · 17/04/2011 22:01

Traditional names that might not be so likely to get a nickname...

George
Luke
Adam
Owen
Jack
Lewis
Mark
Isaac

Names that have nice nicknames IMO

Thomas/Tom
Samuel/Sam
Jacob/Jake
Henry/Harry
Daniel/Dan
Tobias/Toby
Zachary/Zach
Frederick/Freddie
Oliver/Ollie
John/Jack
Nicholas/Nick

mopsyflopsy · 18/04/2011 12:38

I agree - the nicknames Will, Willy or Bill aren't great. How about Liam - or is that too far fetched.

If you're looking for names that aren't shortened to nicknames, how about these:
Adam
Quinn
Hugo

Original poster
mouseanon · 18/04/2011 16:59

Thank you for the suggestions. The right sort of names but none of them quite "the one" (apart from the ones I've used already Wink).

OP posts:
Hatterbox · 18/04/2011 20:18

It's very popular already, so to be honest, I can't see the wedding make a huge impact on the name.

exhausted2011 · 18/04/2011 20:25

dont really think it will be more popular because of the royal wedding
I have a William
Love it, and all the nicknames.
I actually haven't found it that common at all. I haven't come across another one in 3½ years

tammytoby · 18/04/2011 21:07

I'm surprised by its popularity (although Prince William certainly helps) because I also dislike its nicknames, especially the inevitable Willy.

Clary · 18/04/2011 21:14

It is a lovely name.

However wedding or no wedding, it is very popular. There is one in most forms of primary-age children IME. Four in DD's year (yr 5) at school for example (2 classes).

I personally know about a dozen aged 11-5yo.

It's a lovely name tho, so if you like it, go for it.

If you like non-nickname trad names, how about:

Arthur
George
James (sometimes Jimmy but rarely IME)
Henry

WhipMeIndiana · 18/04/2011 21:15

lovely name my grandad too.

Pussinflatboots · 20/04/2011 07:17

I know two newborn Williams. When I took dd for her jabs, another baby William was in the queue too. Lovely name but lots of 'em - depends if this bothers you or not.