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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Anyone have a William? Help me convince DH......

23 replies

MoonHare · 03/04/2012 20:16

DC3 is due in October, so still early days but I'd like to have a shortlist sooner rather than later especially one for boys names (we won't be finding out) as we struggled with boys names last time (have 2 DDs).

I love the name William (and nn Will), plus it was my grandad's name but DH and I are both of an early 1970s vintage and it's pretty uncommon among our age group. As a result DH harbours a belief that any boy named William would be mercilessly teased with endless variations on 'willy' jokes because that's what would have happened when he was at school.

I think this is unlikely these days as it's now a popular name - but what is your experience? Has your little boy ever been teased? Some anecdotal evidence may help DH rethink.

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morethemerrier · 03/04/2012 20:39

My DS2 is William, nn Will/s it is fairly popular here he is one of three in his class, but tbh it wasn't a factor as it just fitted him perfectly when he was born and I never gave popularity or possible teasing a second thought!

He is 4 yrs old in reception, and I have to say I really don't think teasing will be a factor the Williams are in the majority! I think most names are open for teasing and you shouldn't let that put you off.

Its a classic name, that grows well and you have a family link which is nice.

Springforward · 03/04/2012 20:42

We considered William for my 2008 DS, but nn would have been Billy I think. We only turned it down because we liked another name better IYSWIM.

I know of a slightly older William and i'm not aware of any problems.

I think maybe Prince William has given the name a positive association it didn't have so much when we were kids?

Janoschi · 03/04/2012 20:49

Tell him that as your William will be going to school with Cuthbert, Tycho, Humphrey and Beelzebub, I seriously doubt he's going to get much flak.

Seriously though, as a poster wrote recently (I think she's a primary school teacher), kids primarily get picked on for their lack of social skills. Bullying over names is rare.

And I'd say William is a nice name and has a nice meaning for you so why be dictated to by an imaginary bunch of 5 year olds?

Your DH I think is worrying over nothing

TheOneWithTheHair · 03/04/2012 20:57

I have a William and his nn is Bill. I know a few others and have never heard of any bullying around it.

Tell your dh what a good,solid,all-age name it is. :)

Petrean · 03/04/2012 20:59

My cousin William nn Will was never teased as a child over his name. It's a lovely name, a classic.

Original poster

MoonHare · 03/04/2012 21:00

Thank you, this is all grist to my mill.

I like the point about 'imaginary 5 year olds' - I'll definitely use that one next time we talk about names.

Really glad that so far no-one has ever had teasing issues, just as I thought.....:)

OP posts:

Anonymumous · 03/04/2012 21:07

Although DH's surname is Williams and he got called * WillyBums at school. Just thought I'd mention that one...

evamummy · 03/04/2012 21:23

Well, I do know of a William who gets teased with Willy. He is one of ds's friends (Y1) - at that age little boys find it hilarious and popularity does not make it less so for them. Hopefully they'll grow out of it as they get older.

What do you call your ds's penises - I guess mostly Willy, no?

happybigbump · 03/04/2012 21:31

Hmm, I can see how how Will becomes Willy amongst 6-7 year old silly boys, I think that is almost inevitable. But lots of names can be teased.

What would bother me more about Will is that is also a very common verb as in "Will, will you..."

Sorry, I'm not really supportging your case but I thought I'd share my thoughts anyway.

craigslittleangel · 03/04/2012 21:34

I know a 14 year old William who has been known an Will and Billy. I call him Will.i.am (black eyed peas) which he finds the most disturbing of the bunch! I asked him about being called Williy once. He smilled and said he always responded, "Yes I'm Big Willy. How can I help?"

Clary · 04/04/2012 00:15

William is a very popular name. I don't have one (used elsewhere in family) but it is a lovely name, good WW1 vintage like Arthur and Edward and George.

AFAIK none of the Williams in my DCs' circles are ever teased with Willy. This comes up often on MN but actually they are all known as Will or William.

There is one or more than one in most years at my DCs' school FWIW, but if you're fine with that level of popularity (and why not!) then go for it.

wkmmum · 04/04/2012 22:23

My 7 year old is William. Originally he was going to be William on his birth certificate but I was going to call him Billy. But when he was born he just wasn't a Billy. A few people call him Will/s but everyone else calls him William.

Only once has he come home and said that someone at school had told him his name was rude cos it was like Willy. I told him to tell them his name is William not Willy and that Willy isn't a rude word anyway - its a part of your body. And that was the end of that...haven't had any other problems since xx

swlmum · 04/04/2012 22:28

I have a little William- threre are lots around here. A word of warning- they all seem to be really naughty! 'William' is being shouted very loudly and sternly all over the place . Mine is a terror...

HarrietSchulenberg · 04/04/2012 22:30

I have a William. Nn was Bill but he now prefers Will, which I hate. So it's a full-on William at home.
Not naughty at all really and there's only one William in his year, which is nice.

swlmum · 04/04/2012 22:32

Have to say that although he is a terror he is also very cute so gets away with it...

Lozario · 04/04/2012 22:36

I have a William and he's nearly 3. He gets called William, Will or Willy Wonka the Wonka Conka (last one courtesy of crazy uncle!!). It's a pretty common name these days and the poster who said he'd go to school with much crazier named kids was definitely right!! Go for it

muminthecity · 04/04/2012 22:41

I don't have a William but there are 4 of them at the primary school I work in. I have never known any of them to be teased about their name. I like the name although every William I've ever met has been really naughty

muminthecity · 04/04/2012 22:42

Ooh just saw swlmum's post. I have heard lots of people say the same about Williams being very naughty!

swlmum · 04/04/2012 22:52

Can i use it as an excuse? "Oh I'm so sorry about him being so naughty- he can't help it- it's just that he's called William"....

swlmum · 04/04/2012 22:53

Sorry OP- gone slightly off topic- I wouldn't worry about nicknames or teasing-children seem to be able to find something 'funny' about every name if they want to.

googietheegg · 04/04/2012 22:56

My brother is called William and has never been teased over his name. He gets called Will, Wills or Wilbur. Sometimes Guillaume. It's a wonderful name!

Ninjacat · 04/04/2012 23:12

We still call my cousin William "WillyBum".
Sorry.
Kids will be kids though and it's all character building in the end.

Ninjacat · 04/04/2012 23:15

And "Fire at will" "Why what's he done now?" is always a family favorite.

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