Can I have

[Redridinghood88]

One of the names my husband and I like is William, however my concern is I also have a nephew called Billy. So my question is could we have a William or should I scrap it?

I’d be worried they could end up as ‘Billy & Willy’

Of course you can.

I don't mind Billy and Willy at all, I'd be more concerned that they might be Billy and Billy.

You can if you want but I think that you're going to have to really love the name if you go for it.

It's popular and very similar to your DNs name.

Are there any other names on your list?

Assuming it is Billy not William on the BC, I think you'd still need to run it by your sibling before you use William. Objectively William and Billy sound quite different (and most William's get Will as a nickname now), but Billy's parent/s may object and it wouldn't be worth a family row imo, even though William is lovely!

Yes there are others on the list, i was just wondering if I should keep it on my shortlist or not really.

I think it's fine. A lovely name

Doesn’t matter at all. We have cousins, uncles and nephews all with identical names and it has never once created any sort of problem. It’s quite nice if anything. Go for William if that’s your favourite.

@Redridinghood88

I don't mind Billy and Willy at all, I'd be more concerned that they might be Billy and Billy.

Just tell people his nickname is Liam

I think it's fine. It isn't an unusual name. In times gone by, there would have been the same names in every branch of some families.

I really like the name William too!

FWIW, I knew sisters with really similar names, which were shortened to the same shortening. So, imagine they were Elizabeth and Eleanor, and they both got Ellie. Or if they were Evangeline and Evelyn, and they both got Evie. That sort of thing. Even that didn't seem weird once you got used to it! I probably wouldn't do it with siblings myself though, but cousins, yes fine imo.

Of course you can william is lovely :-)

I had 3 cousins and a DB called John...no one ever thought it was an issue.

Why not?

He could be Will or Liam or even William. Or Bill. And even if he does end up Billy, it'll be fine. There'll be a way of distinguishing them.

Go for it. My brothers share names with my dad and two uncles 😂

It's fine.

Ideally you'd shorten to Will not Billy. It's a very classic name so not unusual to have more than one in a family.

(Willy is not a common short form outside Scotland)