Is Billy a 'chav' name?

[RedSky16]

I hate the word 'chav', but I'm not sure how to ask...

I love the name Billy (William) but I've heard bad things about it I don't want him to be judged...

Sorry but yes in my book - Will is much more middle class!

No.

A friend has a Billy. Suits him to a t

I wouldn't say so,

I don't think it's chavvy. I quite like it. Also like Bill.

My influence is as a teacher and Kids called Billy tend to be a bit .... Lively. I hate the word chav but if you mean from a deprived background then yes, predominantly.
Will is lovely.

will is much more middle class 😃 that made me laugh, the Billys i know are normal men/boys its a fine name

We have a William but he is also know as Will, Wills, Bills, Willsy, most variations really but not Billy or Willie!
He's a crazy blond surfer haired tanned looking little guy, he suits them all.,

In my opinion yes, sorry.

I would say yes if Billy on the birth certificate, if William on the BC and you just use as a nickname then it doesn't really matter .. When he's older he can use William if needs be.

Agree with passing about BC.
The nice thing about a name like William is that it can be abbreviated in so many ways. I have a name like that and different groups of people call me different nicknames. I love it because I can always tell where someone knows me from! Like if my brother has introduced me it would be "William" (not my name obvs), my dad would be "BB", my mum "Wills", university would be "Billy" and so on. That way he can choose what he likes as well.

My godson is a William. Mainly gets called Will but, gets Bill, Billy, Billybob etc etc.

Wouldn't say it was a chav name

William Is a family name no a few Billy's kicking about think we are too working class for Wills [gron]

Oh obviously

I don't think it is. Billy/Bill is my favourite nn for it.

No absolutely not.
But use William on birth certificate then he csn be any number of variants.
I like Billy but not Bill, it's an old mans name.

William is used by all classes including working class imo

I'm not sure about the rest of the U.K but it's not a name I'd use in Ireland. It would have certain preconceived ideas attached to it ( King Billy) in some areas. Not in any way 'class' related though.
Bill is awesome though.

Was just about to say the same as mrsgsnow. In parts of Ireland the King Billy connection might be problematic. It would put me off a bit.

Where I live - yes! Just a little bit. I wouldn't let that put you off though

I do know a very lively farmer boy called William who is known as Billy. He has a little brother, Daniel known as Dan and a sister whose name I can't remember.

I find it difficult to imagine a fifty year old Billy. And I actually know one.

William is a really classic name and doesn't have any class associations for me. I know a few babies/toddlers called Billy (short for William) and their parents are very middle class. I'm in London if that's relevant.

I'd probably go for William on the birth certificate - which it sounds as if you're going to do anyway - since it would give him more flexibility as he grows up. Billy is cute for a little boy but he might want to be Will or Bill (or William) when he's older.

I don't think it is. I like it.

To me, and I emphasise to me, William is lovely, has only good associations, multiple abbreviations and is the best for the birth certificate. Will is pleasant and on the posh side. Willy / Willie is silly. Bill is nice. Billy is skangery and has a sectarian association in Ireland.