Are William and Mary dull names?

[Ali2girls]

I don't think so but wondered what netters think? Also, is Mary too much like Polly?

Thanks! :)

I like them both.

No, they're lovely :)

Traditional and strong choices.

Well I have a William so I love it. My daughter could well have been Mary but we went for Martha instead. Both strong classic names you can't go wrong

I love them. Mary is on our list, and William would be but dh does not like it.
I think Polly comes from Mary though via Molly. so Polly would be a nn for Mary So yes, a bit similar.

I love William but I find it too common so dismissed it for DS2. I like Mary, not dull but classic.

They are dull and lovely in equal measure.

They are both lovely (though Mary is quite old fashioned, I think).

Lovely names IMHO.

I suppose I do think Mary is a bit dull, but don't let that put you off because it is also strong and classic.

I wouldn't use both names together (for b/g twins) because of the monarchs, but they'd be ok for non-twin siblings.

My Niece is Mary - it's a lovely name.

I like Polly too.
William is fine but not one of my Favourites.

There are lots little boys called Will about IME.
Mary is bloody lovely.

Like Mary but not William that much.
And definitely never together.

I love Mary, such a pretty name.

William is OK, but too many of them about.

Agree that William is becoming a little dull due to its recent popularity (Prince William?) - when you hear/see/eat anything a lot it tends to lose its 'specialness' and become a little dull.

Mary, on the other hand, is gorgeous - classic, feminine and NOT overused!

Thanks. Not sure whether we are having a boy or a girl (so won't have both names together) but already have two girls - one called Polly. Had heard it's loosely connected with Mary!
dh obsessed with the name William and always has been - think will shorten it to Billy.
But generally struggling to find any names we both like for 3rd child!!

Mary might have been dull but is now unusual. Both lovely classic names.

William is ok, Mary.. Dunno my man was called Mary and she was a bitch so put me off a bit. Then again I'm not a fan of old fashioned/'old lady' names.
No offence to those who are, they just aren't for me!

Vert boring. Please more originality for the new generation. Why would you want your baby to have the same name as a million other people?

I prefer Marie or Maria to Mary but that's just because Mary reminds me of Mary Queen of Scots

William is lovely. And Will, Billy, Liam, and Bill are all nice nn's.

How about Marianne? Or Mariella?

Very

Mary is lovely, and criminally underused in Protestant countries imo. I also love Marie, and to a lesser extent Maria.

William's a fine name too.

I wouldn't name siblings William and Mary simply because to my mind, those names in combination refer to the reign of those monarchs. but i am a massive nerd, so take that with a pinch of salt.

I wouldn't name siblings or twins William and Mary, as the temptation to say "William and Mary of Orange" would be huge and a lot of teasing in school/university would then ensue.....not a funny joke where the children are concerned. But if they are options for one baby and you haven't yet found out the sex of the baby, that's ok. Mary is now relatively uncommon and would be nice for the next generation. I am guessing there are going to be a lot more Williams since Prince William's wedding last year, and in fact it has never really gone out of fashion, so to speak.

Oikopolis - write that with a tinge of Orange did you? "Criminally underused?"

My daughter is Mary and its very gentle sounding. Plus the child denotes the name rather than the other way around- e.g. Clarabel sounds posh/ snooty and what is you are a heffer?? Howevere, be warned, the virgin mary story at Christmas can lead to jokes- my daughter had a friend on the bus to school called Gabriel and a few people would take great pleasure in saying, 'and the angel Gabriel told the virgin Mary that she would have a baby named Jesus' to them. Plus when they do 'Bloody Mary' in History. But my Mary is 15 and got through it. Also obvious rhymes are 'hairy mary' and 'scary mary'. Mary's nickname is Marymoo and Mares. Think you are fully informed now- I still think its great name. Mary J Blige (Cool) Mary Poppins (Sweet) Mary I (Regal).
Love William.