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! :)

Plus Mary is nothing like Polly- Mary is much softer sounding, Polly is harsher.

Polly was the nickname for Mary!

It is like Peggy being a nickname for Margaret etc-they are not always obvious.

William is gorgeous - it is my dad's name (he is known as Bill now, was Billy as a child). However it is terribly popular here; I know of four little boys under the age of four called William. Just too popular for me.

Mary is very pretty; classic yes, dull no.

I have a William (6 months old) not met another baby William yet although I know it's a popular name. I love it and it suits him. Love Mary too although I wouldn't use it now I have a William.
Both lovely and classic IMO :)

Well as a Mary, of course Mary isn't dull.

Polly is a nn for Mary though, as others have pointed out.

Malle (pronounce Mally, to rhyme with Sally) was a Medieval nickname for Mary... this evolved into Molle... which evolved into Molly... which evolved into Polly.

William is completely dull.

As another poster has mentioned for those of us who grew up in a Catholic country, the Virgin Mary, Holy Mary, Hail Mary, Sr Mary link is still a bit fresh. 99% of Irish girls born up until 1985 maybe have Mary as their middle name, myself included.

In England however Mary is a very underused. There's something elegant about it's simplicty, it sounds so fresh. It's funny how for me one name can have two very different faces.

KenDodd no worries, am neither Prot nor Cath nor Orange in any way just a name nerd with strong opinions!!

Both lovely names, but I wouldn't use them together.

I live in Glasgow though, somewhere else the orange connection probably wouldn't be the first thing that came to mind.

Think Mary is well due a comeback whereas William is quite common these days, maybe Billy or Bill as a not so modern shorter version.

Love both. Classic, timeless names.

I do find Mary very boring-sounding. Reminds me of James/John/Jack/Anna/Anne - nice enough names (and classic) but nothing to them IMO (sorry to offend). I don't find William boring at all. Popular yes but for me that doesn't equal boring...a lot of people clearly disagree though...

A little.

I prefer Maria or Marianne. Or Margaret (Maggie/Peggy)

William is a bit better, but sure to become v v popular

If you like Mary, would you consider Joy?

Mary is gorgeous, William a little overused but lovely.

But yeah, together they scream Orange.

Both super boring, i actually think Polly is slightly more interesting

Thanks - I actually already have a Polly so that's why I was wondering if it's too similar...which I think it is. Might use Mary as a middle name though. gafhyb - like the name Joy alot thanks!

Not dull at all, strong and traditional names you can't go wrong with in my opinion!

I think they are both great.

William is top of our boys list (nn. Billy) wouldn't call my own dd Mary, but dont have any specific problem with it...

I think William is dull and overused, sorry. It also has the obvious teasing potential of Willy.

Mary, on the other hand, is beautiful, feminine and underused. I'd love to meet a little girl called Mary!

I know a couple of Marys in their 20s - neither has ever met another (under 60, say :o). It is a name with definite connotations (purity, very "good girl" name) though, and def not with a Polly already. It's like having a Jack and a John.

William is a nice name, strong and will never be out of date. Not earth shattering perhaps but Polly and William sound nice together.