Can I call my son William or will be teased

[Burnsmama]

I’m trying to figure out whether I’m overthinking about using the name William for my son with the last name Burns. We both love the name and it has some nice family connections but we’re worried about Willy Burns jokes. Is this actually likely to happen or am I overthinking it?

😂.

It will definitely happen. Please don’t do it. Lots of other lovely classic boys names out there - James, Samuel, Alexander…

No you really can't.

I went to school with a girl called Ita Peach. Really. That was bad enough.

I know a little boy called Bear William 🙄 don’t do it OP

Do you really think all Williams are miserable and being bullied because they get called Willy? They really aren't. Use the name if you like it.

I've never known a William to be teased by it being shortened to Willy. William Burns sounds fine to me, I wouldn't think twice. Give him a middle name if you're really worried, there are loads that work with William Burns.

Yeah no you can't sorry

They don't have the surname Burns tho do they??

OP you def can't do that to the poor child. I wanted to call my Ds after a family member called William but then decided I preferred Liam. Is that an option? (In the end my DS was a dd anyway 😂)

Please don't do that. I'm actually not even sure if this is real. Why would you do that to your own child?!

Definitely real, and a quick read of the thread will reveal this is as divided an issue as I expected, and not a clear cut case.

Most of the youngish Williams I know are called Will, older ones Bill or Billy.
Will or Bill don't sound too good with your surname. Liam sounds fine.

It's pretty clear cut. You child has a high chance of being teased about it. Not 100% but as risk factors for I would say it's medium risk.
Why do it! Literally 100s of other names.

It's not William that's a problem. It's the combo with surname.

No you can’t.

With your surname I wouldn’t. I was going to say kids can be mean, but honestly, even adults can and he’d be stuck with that forever.

I wouldn't, sorry. It's too obvious of a joke. Alexander, Thomas, plenty of lovely classic names. Maybe give Richard a miss too...

Don’t do it. He would definitely be teased.

If only my Dutch colleague’s parents, Mr and Mrs Winkel, had stopped to think before they christened him Bent, he too could have avoided the sniggering.
(not even joking)

Do children even associate the name Willy as short for William these days?
Will or Bill/Billy yes - but Willy?

This is the thing right, in our (English speaking, not Britain) country, Willy isn’t even really ever used either as a nickname for William or an anatomical joke, which is why I haven’t been sure whether I’m just overthinking so I wanted to ask some minds from anywhere.

@Burnsmama I think you'll be fine then.
William is a good classic name.

I’ve taught 2 Williams with surnames that could have made for teasing/bullying if anyone called them Willy. It didn’t happen. I don’t think people commonly use Willy as a shortening of William anymore.

Even if that's true if he goes to school with soMeone with an English background or ever wants to move to the UK or America people will make the joke (in their heads if not out loud). Genuinely don't do it. It's not fair when there are literally thousands of other names to call him.

It's very clear cut sorry. You're not overthinking. You're just doing what every other person will do.

I knew a William Burns when we were teenagers. Never occurred to me that his name was a problem. And that was in Scotland where Willie or Wullie is a normal short name for William. His nickname was Wilbur.

I know masses of Williams (very popular name around here!) and literally none of them have been called Willy or teased for their name. I love it (it was my lovely Grandad's name), but decided not to use it as a first name because of its popularity - so we used it as a middle name instead.