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?

Samuel and Sam are my favourite from your list.

Please don't call your DS Xan. Xander is bad enough. Alex would be OK though.

Sam

Sam

Thanks very much everyone - some quite different opinions here, but very useful to know what people really think. Some peoples thoughts have been similar to mine - maybe Samuel a bit religious or slightly 90's, William could be considered a bit dull/the Willy thing a problem, perhaps Xan is too uncommon a nn, but Alexander too long a name for daily use

Obviously I like all three longer versions of the names (possibly the sound of the full Samuel the least) but I'm aware that many 3/4 syllable names get shortened anyway so would likely introduce him as the shortened version - especially for Xan since it's less common, but possibly for Sam and Will as well.

I agree that most people will call him whatever he is introduced as, if it's done from very young - but that he himself could decide otherwise as soon as he's old enough and I'd obviously respect that (whether he chose Alex, Liam or the full Samuel for instance).

I must admit I'm surprised to see the dislike for Xan (thanks to the few who said they like it/don't mind it btw!). To be honest though, I'm so contrary it's making me keener on the name . To me it's just a further shortening of Xander, which thanks to Buffy has become trendy/seen as "normal" as Alex over the last 20 years, as well as Xan being a name in it's own right elsewhere in the world.

Here's me thinking I'd done the safer thing by picking classic names in the Top 50 - I originally had "out there"/"try hard"/"pretentious" names like Bram, Orion, Atticus and Orlando on my list and decided I wasn't brave enough!

They are all nice but you may not be able to control nicknames or shortened versions by other people.

Alexander may be changed to Alex, Xan, Xander….
William - Billy, Will, Willy…
Samuel - Sam, Samson, Sammy…

Alexander

My friend Alexander is known to us all as Al. Xand and Xan is a bit cringey

It is also worth knowing that Xan is the short hand term for Xanax.

Which is heavily misused drug in the States at least.

I adore all three, but Samuel is one of my top boys names. It's such a happy name, you can't help but smile when you can Samuel (well, I can't, anyway!) Alexander and William are also both fabulous names though, you can't go wrong.

Alexander has always been my favourite boy’s name but I sadly didn’t get the wee boy to name. Xan sounds fine to me and I don’t understand the MN dislike of it.
Pity you don’t feel comfortable with Orlando — a fabulous name !

William

Nearly ever William I know is shortened to Will or Wills.
A few a known as Bill or Billy.
I dont know any that are nn Willy.

I have a William, he's been known as Will since he was about 7. He's sometimes affectionately known as Willy by us, but never in front of others

I also love Alexander

The long form of all 3 names are all nice

Xan is short for Xanthe though. Don't use Xan for a boy.

Thank you all for the help .

It's strange how disparate the feelings are about "Xan" (so thanks again to those who were more positive - my thoughts were/are it's okay since it's only a nn, he can easily choose something else if he dislikes it himself).

I agree Sam/Samuel seems a friendly name and thanks for those who reassured about "Willy", it's teasing that would worry me the most (people liking his name is more a secondary concern!).

Hmm, I've never thought of Xan as being feminine - where as I've met lots of girl Alex's, I've never met a Xan, male or female (but only heard of male ones). Same with the Xanex thing - I think that's more American, in the UK Valium seems much more commonly used. Interesting that someone liked Orlando, if people are saying "Xan" is pretentious, I dread to think what would happen if I asked for opinions on Orlando! {grin}

Love Will for William and Xan or xand for Alexander.
Dislike Sam, so boring

We have a toddler William- we just introduced him as Will straight away and people stuck to it. The only people who call him by his full name are me and DH when he’s been bold, even though we were adamant he’d only be Will 🤔

I love how many nickname options it has - one to suit whatever type of man he turns into.

I like all but Alexander just clinches it for me

William but I am biased! Our son is mostly Will or Will’s.
occasional relative has called him billy Bob and they’ve had a swift slap!

William

Thanks again all - it's been really useful to see everyones views . At the moment I'm still equally torn between the three, although I will read through the thread again!

Isn't Will a little confusing as it's such a common verb - eg Will Will come? Will's will.

I guess it's better than Willy though

I have an Alexander Raymond who gets called Alex but Alec is a nice option if you already have an Alex ? A Samuel Aaron Matthew so his initials spell Sam and a Jack William Asa so I did feel drawn to comment that I love all those Choices ! Hope all goes well with whichever you choose! Xx

Will is there best.

I like Xan and especially Xander but I don’t think people can get their heads around those, and Alex is much easier.