Traditional names - too common?

[northernftm]

Is William too common these days?
I really like it but hate the idea that the whole class will be full of them.
What do you think?
Any suggestions for similar vibe names?
We like traditional sounding names, for example my nightmare names are things like Jaxon and Levi! So like, whatever is the opposite of those..?
Thanks!

Depends where you live/who you mix with surely.

I don't think I've met a child called William in over 10 years, but I'm in London.

Although, not entirely sure what you mean by traditional as Levi is a biblical name?

My DS in 7, there are 2 Williams, for example, in his year group (60 kids). We are in Yorkshire.

I know a 6yo William (Billy)

I like traditional names though... Arthur and George would have been my boy names

If you're open to Welsh names:
Gwilym
Owen

There are tons and tons and tons of Williams (and Georges) at my childrens’ school.

Although William is popular and yes its highly likely he won't be the only one in his class. It is also a classic will suit him right through life and will never date. I'd say James is of a,very similar vibe.
Other names to consider
Daniel
Thomas
Francis
Andrew
Peter
Christopher

Alexander

Matthew?

Take a look at the baby name stats - you might find some trad but less popular names you like (scroll down to #7 which will give you a spreadsheet link).

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/babynamesenglandandwales/2019#baby-names-data

This is how DH and I named our son We wrote down our favourites and there was one we both agreed on!

William is a lovely name, it's currently number 17 in the charts according to the official figures but if you look into the numbers, the numbers of Williams born has been falling each and every year since 2000 when it peaked. The name looks set to leave the top 20 by the time the 2020 statistics are released so I'd say it's an excellent choice.

Some slightly more underused classic gems:
Peter
Tristan
Simon
Laurence
Matthew
Christopher

@FluffyEggsontoast

William is a lovely name, it's currently number 17 in the charts according to the official figures but if you look into the numbers, the numbers of Williams born has been falling each and every year since 2000 when it peaked. The name looks set to leave the top 20 by the time the 2020 statistics are released so I'd say it's an excellent choice.

Some slightly more underused classic gems:
Peter
Tristan
Simon
Laurence
Matthew
Christopher

We did consider Lawrence but worried it was a bit.. frilly?

I really like it but hate the idea that the whole class will be full of them.

It won't be. The class will be full of Jaxsons and Levis.

@bridgetreilly

I really like it but hate the idea that the whole class will be full of them.

It won't be. The class will be full of Jaxsons and Levis.

😂 do you think?

@FluffyEggsontoast

William is a lovely name, it's currently number 17 in the charts according to the official figures but if you look into the numbers, the numbers of Williams born has been falling each and every year since 2000 when it peaked. The name looks set to leave the top 20 by the time the 2020 statistics are released so I'd say it's an excellent choice.

Some slightly more underused classic gems:
Peter
Tristan
Simon
Laurence
Matthew
Christopher

Agree with this post. It's also worth using the ONS table to check how popular William was in your area last year - as there could be wide regional differences (you could be gutted if you chose something more "uncommon" that you liked less, but which turned out to be very popular where you live!)

BTW William is lovely - so many great namesakes and it's very classic and timeless (in fact I think it's stayed in the top 50 since the 1300's!)

But other classic/traditional names not used very much now (if you want other options) -
Hugh
John
Robert
Phillip
Nicholas
Stephen
Richard
Mark
Edmund

Levi is as traditional as it gets

Wilbur
Wallace
Wesley
Stanley
Clive
Cyril
Francis
Jeremy

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

But other classic/traditional names not used very much now (if you want other options) - Hugh John Robert Phillip Nicholas Stephen Richard Mark Edmund

Thanks!

I have a 2yo William and we've never met another in any of the baby classes he did or at nursery. I don't think it's used that much at all. I think the trend at the mo is more for old names, but not necessarily classic or timeless which is what William is x

My DS are 5 and 7. We know no Williams. Plenty of Jaxons, Juniors and Ollie's though.

We have a Thomas and I am yet to encounter another at DS school.

Classic traditional names are popular for a reason!

They’re timeless and guaranteed not to cause embarrassment. They’re also pretty flexible so whoever your child turns out to be personality or lifestyle wise they’ll suit it.

I love William and wanted to use it for DS

Our top list included:

William
Charles
Edward
Henry
Thomas
George
Alexander
Oliver (although did think this was too popular even for us)

We went for one of those names in the end and are very happy with our choice. Naming a child is a real responsibility x

@Pumpertrumper

Classic traditional names are popular for a reason!

They’re timeless and guaranteed not to cause embarrassment. They’re also pretty flexible so whoever your child turns out to be personality or lifestyle wise they’ll suit it.

I love William and wanted to use it for DS

Our top list included:

William
Charles
Edward
Henry
Thomas
George
Alexander
Oliver (although did think this was too popular even for us)

We went for one of those names in the end and are very happy with our choice. Naming a child is a real responsibility x

Love Oliver, but there's just too many!

@ethelredonagoodday

My DS in 7, there are 2 Williams, for example, in his year group (60 kids). We are in Yorkshire.

Wow, that's a lot less than I expected! Is there a name which lots of the kids have?

Nathaniel

My children are a little older (teenagers). There was no William in their primary school at all throughout all their years there.
There is one William in each of their years at their v large secondary school (all known as Will). Both of them do a lot of extra curricular activities and there are no Williams at any of them either.
I have one friend with a William (sisters Grace and Ella) who is 13.