Which do you like best - Alexander (Xan), Samuel (Sam) or William (Will)?

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

So I tend to like classic names and I think I've narrowed it down to one of these three for DS. I'm not too worried about popularity (each were given to 5 babies or less out of about 800 in my area last year) - but I keep changing my mind about which I like the sound of the most. Any views/tell me your fave of the three, please?

Alexander.

Alexander (Alex)

Alexander but not Xan, its just no. Don't like Willy so Samuel, fine and dependable

All the long names are good, I've got a marginal preference for William.

Xan is very try-hard.

Thanks very much everyone for the replies so far .

The Alex nn isn't ideal as we already have a girl Alex in my (very large) extended family (always known as Alex, not Alexandra). But I realise a 4 syllable name like Alexander will most likely get shortened so I'd rather try to pre-empt it and introduce him as Xan from day 1.

Do William's always get called Willy? I thought with William consistently in the top 10/20 that such teasing would be unlikely now....

All the Williams I know are Will. None have ever been called Willy.

I like Sam or Will the best because I really dislike Xan.

Highly unlikely that a child who is called Alexander will get called Xan rather than Alex.

Alexander, nn Xand is nice.

Xan hurts my head

William

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

Thanks very much everyone for the replies so far .

The Alex nn isn't ideal as we already have a girl Alex in my (very large) extended family (always known as Alex, not Alexandra). But I realise a 4 syllable name like Alexander will most likely get shortened so I'd rather try to pre-empt it and introduce him as Xan from day 1.

Do William's always get called Willy? I thought with William consistently in the top 10/20 that such teasing would be unlikely now....

You can’t control what nickname your ds will prefer for Alexander, so if you want to avoid Alex don’t pick it - you can call him Xan all you like but he may well have other ideas himself and so might his friends when he’s older.

I’ve never known a William called Willy, ever , Will, Bill, Billy or Liam maybe.

I'm I Scotland where lots of Alexander's get Xander and often shortened further to Xan.

Thanks all . Good to know most Williams don't get "Willy".

I don't mind the "Xand" nn either, it's just "Alex" that isn't so practical (it also doesn't sound that great with my surname either, although the full Alexander sounds good!).

Will

Xander might work as a more recognised nickname - I second PP that Xan comes as a bit try hard and that it’s hard to dictate what nn will stick anyway.

@Fluffypastelslippers

I'm I Scotland where lots of Alexander's get Xander and often shortened further to Xan.

That's interesting to know thanks - I didn't think Xan was that rare/weird (I think there's even one in the Windsor family from googling! ). But obviously I'd call him Alex if that's what he decided he wanted himself. It's looking like Samuel or William might be simpler choices though...

Alexander (nn Sandy) then Samuel. Really don't like Xan/Xander. Agree it seems try hard.

I love all of the names, but let the child determine his own nickname as he gets older.

Also, depends on how closer the other Alex is to you / your son. If it’s a cousin, or a second cousin you see a lot, I think it would be rude to call your child Alexander when it’s so close to Alexandra and they basically got there first. I know a family where second cousins who see each other four or five times a year have this, and the family refers to them as ‘boy Harry’ and ‘girl Harry’. Drives the parents of the boy, who came first, mad.

I knew an Alexander nn Sandy if that's any good? (I like it but totally associate it with him, he was pretty cool).
Also knew a William whose father called him Willie (no one else did tho)

Alexander (Alex) not Xan

Xander is ok as a standalone name, Buffy style

Thanks everyone for the replies - much appreciated .

Other "Alex" is the wife of a cousin - but different generation and surname and I very rarely see them (plus I have more than 30 cousins if you only count my 1st cousins alone - so you can imagine pretty much all the "classic" or popular boys names have already been used in the extended family in the various generations, we have multiples of a few names).

I don't dislike Sandy or even Sasha but I personally find them a further stretch for me than Xan/Xand/Xander as I have no Scottish or Russian links.

Sam. It's classic and beautiful

I know a William who gets teased with Willy

I like Samuel.