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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

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Heytheredemons · 21/02/2022 21:07

A friend has a William, he is a year old. A wonderful name and really suits a baby. He's known as William or Wills

AgeingDoc · 21/02/2022 21:08

I know a couple, both in their mid 20s now. One was Billy until he was about 13 or14 when he switched to Will, and the other was William until he was in his teens and switched to Will (though his Mum still calls him William.) I'm not aware of either of them ever being teased.

BertieBotts · 21/02/2022 21:11

I have to say (sorry) the William I knew, who would be in his 30s now, used to lean into the Willy nickname and his friends called him Willy Bum Bum and he thought it was funny. More widely known as Will. Didn't know him well enough to know how he felt about that in private, but judging by the banter that was thrown around, it was genuinely affectionate and amusing.

ladygindiva · 21/02/2022 21:11

I have a friend with an 11 year old William, never shortened, everyone likes it and he seems to. Not heard of any issues. It's a nice name.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 21/02/2022 21:22

I have a William, he’s nearly 3. He’s called Will day to day, occasionally Billy or Liam. William only when he’s been bold.

It’s a family name on my side- I love that my grandad’s name lives on every time I give out to DS for bouncing on the sofa or getting ice cream out of the freezer without asking.

Original poster
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/02/2022 21:25

Thank you all so much for the help! Flowers So reassuring to know that the majority of you don't know of any teasing.

TheUsualShitShow, I can see that it wouldn't be the end of the world for a lot of kids, but still if lots of people responded to the thread saying "yes, my William is teased all the time with Willy", I'd probably second guess my favourite name and end up going with my second choice in a better safe than sorry type of thing.

Strange how popularity differs so much by area isn't it? But I do think the possible popularity thing concerns me a lot less, as most of the male relatives and friends that I've ever spoken to about their names don't seem to care that they have a friend/had another in their class with the same name. And unfortunately all the names I like best seem to be timelessly popular ones (top 50), so not using my favourite likely wouldn't help with that!

Interesting also to see that the many of William's who go by nicknames seem to be "Will" - I must admit that if DS uses a nn, that's my personal favourite out of Will/Wills/Billy/Bill/Liam, but I realise I probably won't get a say!

bitchinofhitchen - I can't believe they are all Emily! - I suppose it is a classic like William. Unfortunately after 3 years of IVF my DS is most likely to be an only child - another reason I feel like I have to get his name "right".

OP posts:
Myadhdusername · 21/02/2022 21:29

Here in scotland it's very much WULLIE. Most in their 30s minimum now though.

HiKelsey · 21/02/2022 21:32

My friends son is called William and is called Will for short or illiam by by daughter who is 2.5 (they're the same age).

Original poster
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/02/2022 21:40

BertieBotts - no it's fine, I'd much rather people were honest. And it does seem based on posts so far that name teasing is much more uncommon now than it used to be. When I've mentioned William to friends/relatives who've asked, it's only a couple of the much older ones who have said "Oh Willy MySurname"! (and obviously I can give them short shrift if they do that and it bothers DS, it's only his peers/other kids that might make me worry slightly ).

OP posts:
GeneLovesJezebel · 21/02/2022 21:41

I know one and he is Will.

Myadhdusername · 21/02/2022 21:43

@BertieBotts Willy bum bum Grin

DestinyIsAll · 21/02/2022 22:21

My ds1, now 26 is William, but always called Will by us and he does prefer to use the shortened version himself too. He likes William, but just suits and prefers Will. It’s suited him at all ages.

He’s never been teased, called Willy or had the piss taken ever, people have only ever been positive.

gingerhills · 21/02/2022 22:24

The ones I know are older - mid and early twenties. It's a classic name.

Blubells · 21/02/2022 22:49

We know a 16 year old William.

At primary school he was teased with Willy unfortunately. It's such an obvious teasing potential though.

Now he's known as Will mainly (which I personally don't like as it can be confusing when saying "Will Will come over?" Confused

moonbabyandthebeast · 21/02/2022 23:24

I have a 6 year old William. Goes by William or Will/Wills. He likes his name and I've always loved it. No teasing at all. I assumed he wud be one of many but only one (known as Billy) in nursery,none in preschool and pretty sure no others in his year at school. Whereas there are girls and boys in his class with 'more unusual' names and there are 2 of each. You just cannot predict the popularity of an name,in a certain area or time. My advice,if you love it,go for it,you won't regret it!

sofakingcool · 21/02/2022 23:26

I know 3 Williams - 2 Will and 1 William

As far as I'm aware, I've never known them to have horrible nicknames. I really like the name

Ozanj · 21/02/2022 23:26

I know a few toddlers. 90% of them go by Liam.

boyblue · 21/02/2022 23:31

I have a William who goes by Billy (age 10)which is so him & he loves. I can see him ended up as a Bill. He has mates called will and William and Billy. Timeless name with loads of versions

JamMakingWannaBe · 21/02/2022 23:32

@Myadhdusername

Here in scotland it's very much WULLIE. Most in their 30s minimum now though.
Definitely this.
ExcuseeeeMe · 21/02/2022 23:33

@MuchTooTired

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.

Still happens sadly my DS has a friend called William . All the boys call him Willy
DelphiniumBlue · 21/02/2022 23:35

I know lots of Williams, mostly between the ages of 8-30.
They are mostly known either as Will, Billy or just William. I wondered about "willy" teasing, but it never happened, I think the parents got the nickname sorted before they went to school, so was never an issue.

blameitonthecaffeine · 21/02/2022 23:36

I know quite a few, including a 6 year old relative. All either William or Will. No issues with bullying.

(with the exception of one William who had a 2 syllable surname, both syllables of which could be linked to a penis. He once got very upset because some horribly 'clever' little girls had started calling him 'Willy Willy Cock' instead of William W- - - C- - - -)

SonicBroom · 21/02/2022 23:36

Three in DS’ year (primary). All William … no nicknames but occasionally Will, therefore referred to with full names for avoidance of doubt. Eg William Jones, William Smith and William Black.

Mummysgirl12 · 21/02/2022 23:43

My 30 year old husband is Will. He is a teacher and the popular name is currently Billy where we are. 6 in a year group. Only one of them stands for William, ffs

DelurkingAJ · 21/02/2022 23:48

Squadrons of them here (including my own DS). Not a Willy in sight, they’re all Will or William. Playing cricket recently and 2/3 of the team were William (poor chap scoring nearly cried).