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

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

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

My William is 17, likes his name, and has never been teased about it. We as a family still call him William, but he’s Will to everyone else, and that’s how he introduces himself. Know quite a few others of various ages, none of whom have had any problems I’m aware of!

Never been a bullying issue. Ever

Yes. He is called Will and though I don't know him personally his mum has never mentioned any name calling. Where I grew up it would be shortened to Bill or Billy.
I'm not sure asking a child themselves about their name - when I was a kid no one liked their own name and just imagined a far more interesting life if they were called something else!

Really nice name. I've been teaching for 15 years and I've only taught one! My son is friends with a William known as Will (8). No teasing etc.

Isn't Will confusing as it's such a common word? "Will Will come" or Will's will" etc.

DS’s best friend is William - but always, always called Will. They’re 13.

Never been teased for it, never called Willy.

Great name.

I know two children called William. One is William, one is Will. Both nice kids who don't get teased for their name
William is a family name for me too. I went with Liam for my son as an alternative.

I love William, would shorten to Billy

I know 2, one is always Will the other is either William or will. Neither has been teased bout the name as far as I know. Both teens

There's a couple I know of at dc's school, one in same class, I think it's a lovely timeless name, he's always called William not will, but both are lovely. Never heard of any teasing!

Lovely name.

My father is a William, known as Bill, the young adult Williams are known as Will and the child Williams are also known as William, Will or Billy. We do call one of our good friends ‘Big Willy’ but it’s just a bit of banter and he would never take any insult from it.

It’s a classic, timeless, royal name and I really don’t think you can go wrong with it.

@bitchinofhitchen

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

Interesting.

The one young William I know does indeed have a sister named Emily.

I know loads, from all over the uk sorry

Thank you so much everyone for the help . It's nice to know so many have/know William's and that many people seem like the name is a bonus. Definitely happier with my choice now!

He can decide when he's older if he wants to be "Will" or whatever nn - I can see that being a verb "Will" could be confusing, but as whichever nn he chooses will be up to him, I don't think it matters too much (I've been calling bump by the full William -no response/particular kicks sadly - but neither is there to my second choice!)

I feel reassured, as I think only 4? posts out of about 60 mentioning they know of "Willy" teasing isn't too bad. The popularity is fine I think (I'm expecting there will be others in school, I'll just have to wait and see if I/he get unlucky and there's another in his class too) - in fact I suppose in theory the more William's there are the less likely there is to be any teasing about the name. And actually when thinking about it more, most people seem to say the middle syllable so quickly that it sounds more like "Will-yum" than "Wil -lee -um" - so maybe not all young kids even make the connection.

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to respond

I avoided William because of the Willy thing. It’s all I could think of in relation to the name (despite liking the longer version and liking will/wills). Maybe it’s our generation. Honestly, I know/have known A LOT of williams/wills and not one of them has EVER been called Willy! (In fact my only reservation would be how many young Wills there are, but you say that’s not an issue where you are!)

my sons have 3 or 4 friends called William. All are called William by their mothers and Will by everyone else. None have piss taken out of them and it’s an entirely standard name that fits in with all the Oliver’s, Ollie, Theos, Joshs etc.

Yes I have a William. He wanted it shortened in year 3 to Will as he was being teased. Took a while for me to get used to calling him Will but now, it’s him!!

No issues with being teased.

I mean no more issues.

I know a Will and there's Billy and Liam in the family. William is a lovely name 💐

Best friend has a 16 year old William, nn Will. Great name, suited him as a baby, toddler, child and young man. Never had any teasing.

Mine was teased but was in an unfortunately fairly unpleasant year group.
He went by his second name after KS1 and changed it by deed poll as a teen.

Thanks again everyone .

Despite a couple more posts mentioning they know of "Willy" teasing, I think I'm still leaning towards it - as I wonder if I might regret not going for my favourite if there are likely other William's in school who don't get teased. I keep trying to prefer our second choice, but unless he somehow "looks" more like a Sam (Samuel) when he's born, I think it's going to be William

BTW I'm sorry for those with William's who've been teased , it seems so stupid a thing when it's such a "normal"/commonplace name - I mean as well as being a Top 20 name surely kids will likely hear "William" regularly in school with studying people like Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Wilberforce, the "Conqueror", etc? But maybe that's adult logic.

I know of one William under 15 and his name doesn't get shortened. My uncle is a Will. I am in my early 30s and can recall at least 3 Williams in my year group, all going by Will if memory serves correctly and none being called Willy.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

Thanks again everyone .

Despite a couple more posts mentioning they know of "Willy" teasing, I think I'm still leaning towards it - as I wonder if I might regret not going for my favourite if there are likely other William's in school who don't get teased. I keep trying to prefer our second choice, but unless he somehow "looks" more like a Sam (Samuel) when he's born, I think it's going to be William

BTW I'm sorry for those with William's who've been teased , it seems so stupid a thing when it's such a "normal"/commonplace name - I mean as well as being a Top 20 name surely kids will likely hear "William" regularly in school with studying people like Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Wilberforce, the "Conqueror", etc? But maybe that's adult logic.

Honestly you’re overthinking it.

Your DS will be going to school with kids who have names from all over the world, from tv shows or named after sports heroes. They will not blink an eye over a classic top twenty name.

DH has a short, un-mockable name and got teased for a time at school because his classmates realised his name in irish rhymed with the Irish for egg . So you could pick your second choice only for some little darling to pick up on some ridiculously tenuous link anyway!