Shortening William to Bill?

[Victoria051986]

Hello, me and DH both like the name William Oliver for upcoming DS3 - however don’t really like the shortening Will and much prefer Bill which sounds a lot nicer, in a classy kind of way (IMO). How would we be able to avoid people shortening to Will?

His two older brothers are Joseph Matthew (Joe) and Patrick David. Thanks

It's not Billiam but William

Register him as William but just call him Bill from the outset ?

Just call him Bill, it’s a standard nickname, once people know they won’t call him Will

Agree with PP, just tell everyone he is William to be known as Bill and call him Bill yourself and people will follow suit. It's no different to people calling their Edward Ted rather than Ed.

We've got a Bill.

"William" when acting the dickhead (often) 😂

It's pretty easy these days as nursery and school have a "known as" box on all the forms

So put "Bill" and that's the name that will be on his coat peg

Obviously his mates or him may decide he's Will but they may also decide on an assortment of nicknames so you can never entirely control it. But Bill will be relatively straightforward . I know of two adult Williams who have always been Bill not Will

My son is James but we shorten it to Jimmy rather than Jamie (I dislike Jamie a lot)

He's registered as James and nursery / preschool will call him that, but we introduce him as Jimmy.

Registering as William and calling him Bill is Billy is fine

@Flowerpowersy I get what you said was a joke but still - is Billiam an actual name?

I'm scottish so he would be "Wullie" up here. You could put William on his birth cert and call him Bill but you cant stop him calling himself Will when he is older.

We registered DS1 as William but he has always been Billy/Bill. Known as box ticked on school forms.

My OH's dad is William but always known as Bill.

I wouldn't say Bill was classy.

@user1493494961

I wouldn't say Bill was classy.

😂

If you'd met my Bill, you'd see why...

My Dad is William but he's always been known as Bill. Maybe shortening it to Will is a generational thing. Dad has a couple of friends called William and they are all known as Bill, apart from one who is Willie, but I don't think you'd really want that.

It’s such a cute name!
Just introduce him as Bill! It will stick. Love it and congrats 🥳

My dad was William , always known as Bill , it's the standard shortening of the name
Great choice ✅

We have loads of Williams in our family ... the youngest gets called Liam for short we are all Scottish as well and nobody is referred to as Wullie

People will call him what you call him and what he calls himself. Schools ask for child’s “preferred name” so he will be known at school as Bill, all his friends will call him Bill etc.

You could just name him Bill to be sure.

Billy’s much nicer by the way.

I love Bill and Billy

Just call him Bill and introduce him as Bill

Bill is a very traditional pet firm of William, it’s nit even a question that needs asking.

I wouldn't call him William if you deeply object to Will as some people might use it at some point, but if you always call him Bill and inform the school then most people will stick to that for sure.

Maybe just name him Bill ?

I would put William on the birth certificate and call him Bill, but be aware that he may choose a different version when he is older. I know 3 adult Williams who were known as Billy in childhood - it seems to be the common diminutive around here as I know quite a few children too. The 3 all changed what they wanted to be known as in their teens or early adult life. One is now Bill, the second is Will and the 3rd likes to be called William. You may prefer Bill now, which is fine - introduce him as Bill and that's what people will call him, but leave the options open as your son may feel differently at some point. My DD uses a shortened version of her name that I don't like and vowed I would never "allow". But she is a person in her own right and chose that version for herself, so I have to put up with it.

I have a William he answers to bill Billy will and William

His great grandad was a William too everyone called him fred 🤷‍♀️