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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Anybody have a DS named William? Or know one well?

100 replies

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/02/2022 20:06

So I think I've narrowed it down to my top 2 for DS and William is in the lead as it's also a family name for us (but the relatives are long deceased so there will be no name confusion). I also like its timeless quality and that there are lots of interesting famous namesakes.

But despite it's apparent popularity, I don't personally know any younger William's to ask what they think of their name (apparently according to ONS only about 3 or 4 boys seem to be given the name each year where I live).

So parents/relatives/friends of William's, please help me! Do they like their name? Are there any issues with it? (eg. Do they get teased with "Willy?" Do they hate that there are probably also others at their school/clubs named it?) Are they known as William or do they go by a nickname?

I'm probably over thinking such an apparently popular name, but I'm due in just a couple of weeks now and starting to get panicky that I can't make up my mind (and that I'll be pressured to make a decision asap by relatives once he's here!).

Thanks for any help Flowers

OP posts:
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Uni90 · 21/02/2022 20:08

Love the name William and wills for short. Don’t know any !

321zyx · 21/02/2022 20:10

I know one, shortened to Will

StartupRepair · 21/02/2022 20:11

I have a 10 year old nephew William. It is never shortened. Nice name.

MuchTooTired · 21/02/2022 20:12

I know one, he hates the name. Had the piss ripped out of him for years.

Willy winky
Willy wonka
Willy in general

Admittedly this would’ve been 30+ years ago, maybe kids today are kinder.

SunnySomer · 21/02/2022 20:12

I teach one. Known by everyone as William. No nicknames at all. I have a friend with an older William (teen) who is known as Billy and a different friend with a Wills… none ever had issues with silly names.

TheUsualShitshow · 21/02/2022 20:14

The Williams I know all go by Will.

beggsie · 21/02/2022 20:14

I have a 16yr old William. He likes his name, and is known as Will, mostly (though I do call him William a lot too, as I love it, and he doesn't mind!). Surprisingly few other Williams in his year so no problem there. He is called Bill and Billy by some family members, but no one outside the family that I am aware of. And I've never heard of any teasing relating to his name!
I think it is a great name for a toddler, boy, teen and man - obvs biased but HTH!

Splashinginpuddles15 · 21/02/2022 20:15

I taught for 16 years in an all boys school . Have taught plenty of Williams . They either were called by their full names or Will/ Wills . I have never heard any teasing or it being shortened to Willy .
Best friend had a 16 year old son called William and she has never shortened it .

Oneearringlost · 21/02/2022 20:16

My DH is called William
He was known as Willy by his family for short.
Problem was his father was called Richard so Dick and his grandfather was called John Thomas.
Just a funny story, sorry, can't really help with your dilemma.

Splashinginpuddles15 · 21/02/2022 20:16

Sorry , should say has a son .

Reality · 21/02/2022 20:18

My William (10) is William (or The Bumble, no idea why but that’s all me and DH call him Grin)

We called him Wills when he was little but he’s firmly William with his peers and everyone we know.

erhellerr · 21/02/2022 20:28

I know a 13 yo William, shortened to Will. Never has any issues with name calling.

erhellerr · 21/02/2022 20:29

I also know a Willem which I think is a lovely name. He's half Dutch

Original poster
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/02/2022 20:30

Thank you very much everyone for your help Smile - it's really good to know that most of you don't know of any issues with the name!

Obviously I have no problem if he decides he wants to be called Will/Wills/Billy etc (but I'm always curious about what the current most popular shortening is - the ones I've met are much older so are all "Bill") although I would likely stick with William unless DS tells me otherwise.

But while I know any name can be teased, I just want to be as sure as I can be that I'm not setting him up for an obvious fall with the "Willy" thing - as MuchTooTired mentioned, I wasn't sure whether it's a common problem anymore (but even 30 years ago I think the name was pretty popular so I'm not sure why it would happen then either?)

OP posts:
pontiouspilates · 21/02/2022 20:31

My DD, 20, has two Wills in her friendship group. It's a great name with lots of options.

Flackattack · 21/02/2022 20:32

It’s really popular here / 4 in my Ds class.

TheTempest · 21/02/2022 20:33

My nephew is William, and is always known as Billy. He’s 17 now and never had issues with name related bullying (sadly lots of other things though). Go for it, lots of options and is a Name that suits all ages I think

RedCandyApple · 21/02/2022 20:34

My brothers name, he’s in his late 30s never been teased, he gets called will. He likes his name.

SallyWD · 21/02/2022 20:35

My nephew is a 9 year old William. Never been teased about his name. About a year ago he decided he wanted to be called Billy. He likes the name William but loves being called Billy. I think William is a lovely name. I love Will as a nickname for a man.

WindyKnickers · 21/02/2022 20:37

DS has a good friend called William which is always shortened to Billy. Its a lovely name. His brothers also have traditional/formal sounding names shortened to more boyish versions (Think Stephen/Stevie, Theodore/Theo, Robert/Bobby, Joseph/Joey). I think giving your child the option of a "proper" name is a nice thing to do.

Bananice · 21/02/2022 20:43

I have a 9 year old William. He's always called William at home, but at school is known as "Will", which he prefers. He'd hate to be called Willy, but no one has cottoned on to that or teased him with it yet. School of 300, only one other William at the school - he's always been the only one in his class, despite the popularity. I still love the name, and it suits him perfectly!

bitchinofhitchen · 21/02/2022 20:47

I know 5 young Williams. They are all leather will or William and the ALL have sisters called Emily. 2 are sets of twins.

TheUsualShitshow · 21/02/2022 20:50

Even if he gets called Willy, there are far worse things!

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 21/02/2022 20:50

I’ve taught a lot of Williams (secondary). They pretty much all go by Will, with a handful of Billies. Never heard any ‘Willy’ teasing.

Marmite0nToast · 21/02/2022 20:58

It was always our first choice for our son. There are a few other Williams in his year. Everyone calls him Will and at home we call him Willers or Wills. Other Williams that we know prefer to be called Billy or Will. Also no 'Willy' teasing that has happened that we know of.