Rex or William?

[cheddaraddict]

Expecting DC number 2, a brother for Frederick (Freddie). Think we're sorted on girls' names but can't decide between Rex and William for a boy. William is classic but there are a lot of them about. Rex is more unusual, and it was my grandfather's name. We have a monosyllabic surname though so worried it might be a bit short. What do you think?

Think , I only know 1 (very cool) little boy called Rex, how many have you heard?

Am sure there was the Fearne Cotton affect but in 2013 there were only 322 new Rex's according to this- names.darkgreener.com/#nevaeh

oh, silly me thats the rank not the number of??! But still 322 in the chart isn't exactly common

Rex.

William is fine but withers to nothing when in the company of the mighty Rex.

Just as it seemed there was a consensus I log back on and most of the recent posters prefer Rex... It definitely is a marmite name. I'm slightly concerned about bullying potential though?

I'd be interested to know how many doggie Rexs people know as opposed to human ones. For me it was always my grandfather's name and I'd never heard of it as a dog's name but it obviously has that connotation for some people. He was just Rex, it wasn't short for anything.

I've never met a dog called Rex.

I have met dogs called Milly, Toby, Penny and Alfie though!

I've never met a dog called Rex. I know a teenage boy called Rex, it's fine, a name just like any other name.

I probably wouldnt use it if I were you though as Rex one syllable surname is a very short entire name.

Will is a great nn for William too. Very cool IMO.

What about Felix or Max?

I prefer William.
Rex would grow up to be a slimy estate agent

I love them both but would lean more towards Rex. Never met an animal or person called it!

Love Rex. William is wet, IMO

As I said earlier, the one-syllable thing needn't be an issue if you go with Reginald, which shortens to Rex as well as Reggie.

I really wouldn't worry about the dog thing. The current fashion is for dogs to be given human names, so most popular names are getting given to dogs now. One day it will swing back to Fido, Rover, Patch and the like.

Choose Rex, it's much better than William!

Slimy estate agent would be the absolute opposite in my mind possibly for a Rex. Rex would be a cool singer, fab artist, athlete, actor or political mastermind. Intelligent, creative, warm and kind.

Estate agents = Gavin, Gary, David...

Think "bullying potential" has really changed in last 5/10 years as the Jonathans, Daniels and Williams are rarer and individual, quirky, different names are ever increasing as people dare to be different & not obsessed with conforming anymore.

William. Rex is too much of a dog's name

I HAVE NEVER MET A DOG IN MY LIFE CALLED REX!!! Get over it people, so dull and unimaginative.
Rex is fab.

The most popular dog name round our way is Tilly. There's at least 4.