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Baby names

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Benedict William and unfortunate nicknames?

35 replies

Peregrin · 14/09/2013 21:21

Baby boy is due any time soon and DH is having second thoughts on the name. We'd kind of agreed on Benedict, as one of the few names neither of us objected to (though not keen on shortening to Ben or Ned), it sort of works in the various languages in the family, and we like its meaning.

However, there is a campaign underway now in favour of William. We actually both really like the English version of the name, and both his parents and mine love it much more than Benedict. Problem is: 1) I dislike the equivalent name in my mother tongue, 2) William sounds more English than Benedict and since neither of us were born English, I fear we would look like we are trying too hard.

I could propose William as the middle name and let everyone pick their favourite of the two when addressing the child, but I can't banish "Bendy Willy" from my mind! I don't want people snickering behind his back throughout his life (though we do live abroad for now and the locals would probably not think of these nicks).

Thoughts?

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J0y · 10/09/2022 08:18

I prefer Benedict to Benjamin.

What about Benedict Liam. Sounds less English, although it doesn't sound not English either, ykwim. Benedict Liam removes the possibility of Bendy Willy as a nn.

Although, I don't think boys end up with a nn based on their middle name!

Gonnagetacatwhenimovein · 10/09/2022 08:25

Never knew a Benedict who wasn’t known as Ben once they started school

RicottaCheesePie · 10/09/2022 08:27

I love the name Benedict. Classy and underused.
William is a bit boring imo.

ofwarren · 10/09/2022 08:34

This post is 9 years old!

carefullycourageous · 10/09/2022 08:55

ofwarren · 10/09/2022 08:34

This post is 9 years old!

Grin
KentuckyDerbyandJoan · 10/09/2022 09:02

Umm the Ops Bendy Willy will now be nearly 9, very old thread.

Ducksurprise · 10/09/2022 09:08

So what did BenedictHater11 post to revive the thread, and what happened to haters 1-10?

autumnboys · 10/09/2022 09:14

I have a lovely BIL called Benedict, the children call him Uncle Eggs. He goes by Ben though mostly.

I would advise against letting people address your child with whichever name they prefer though. Choose a name and be united on it.

Algor1thm · 10/09/2022 22:46

Yeah... there was a Benedict in my year at school. Obviously he was Bendy Dick to everyone for 5 years. Pair that with William and that's a tough name to handle.

JasmineIndigo · 11/09/2022 07:26

I have a brother called Benedict, he's always been Ben and has never been called Bendydick. Maybe it's a regional thing to make that connection?

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