Page 4 | Can I call my son William or will be teased

Burnsmama · 2023-11-07T07:23:07+00:00

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?

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TriceratopsRocks · 07/11/2023 23:14

Burnsmama · 07/11/2023 20:16

Thanks everyone! My follow up question is, do you think you would have immediately thought “Willy Burns” upon hearing the name William Burns without me specifically calling it out in the original post?

Not at all. I thought it was a really nice, strong sounding name and I liked it - whether he ended up being William, Will or Billy.

MadamVastra · 07/11/2023 23:17

Oh good grief op please don't

i also think what were Mike Racks (f1) parents thinking of as well!

Maddy70 · 07/11/2023 23:22

I teach and know lots of Williams. I have honestly never heard them being made fun off. I think that was more our generation.

wherethewildtbingsgo · 08/11/2023 13:14

Maddy70 · 07/11/2023 23:22

I teach and know lots of Williams. I have honestly never heard them being made fun off. I think that was more our generation.

I think you're missing the point.

Her surname is Burns. The child will be William Burns aka Willy Burns.

No-one is suggesting William is a stupid or problematic name unless and until you pair it with Willy.

Frenchtoastandoj · 08/11/2023 13:19

All Williams my kids know are Wills .

Im not sure kids bully in the same way as the older generations did . I’d be surprised if the name was an issue.

LylaLee · 08/11/2023 13:22

It's not very kind to give your child a comedy name. Especially not when there are literally thousands of alternatives.

AccountantMum · 08/11/2023 13:28

It's a normal name - I think if children want to pick on someone they will find something to tease them for regardless of name.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 08/11/2023 13:32

One of my sons is a William. Nobody has EVER, in his entire 30 years of life, called him Willy or Bill. He is Will or Wills to absolutely everyone, from his brother and sisters, his cohort at school to his friends and colleagues.
I don't even think Willy is a thing any more, and Billy appears to be a name in its own right now.

Maddy70 · 08/11/2023 13:38

wherethewildtbingsgo · 08/11/2023 13:14

I think you're missing the point.

Her surname is Burns. The child will be William Burns aka Willy Burns.

No-one is suggesting William is a stupid or problematic name unless and until you pair it with Willy.

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I had indeed missed that. Yeah that puts a different perspective

wited · 08/11/2023 14:09

Burnsmama · 07/11/2023 20:16

Thanks everyone! My follow up question is, do you think you would have immediately thought “Willy Burns” upon hearing the name William Burns without me specifically calling it out in the original post?

Yes immediately.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 09/11/2023 00:27

Burnsmama · 07/11/2023 20:16

Thanks everyone! My follow up question is, do you think you would have immediately thought “Willy Burns” upon hearing the name William Burns without me specifically calling it out in the original post?

No I wouldn't have immediately thought "Willy Burns" - not till you mentioned it. I thought "nice flowing name (3 syllables followed by 1)" and "William is one of my favourite names".

Burns is a fairly commonplace surname. William is a very popular first name in lots of countries (including non English speaking ones - I think it's top 10/20 in at least a dozen countries at the moment). I bet if you searched on social media or LinkedIn etc there will be thousands of men named William Burns out there- (Isn't the head of the FBI or CIA named William Burns?)

In my opinion it's fine, OP - as others have mentioned, most William's are their full name or Will/Bill (if older). I think "Willy Burns" would be a bit of a pathetic joke even for teenagers - but I don't work in schools so maybe name teasing is more common than I think?

Though if it really did cause a problem or he hated the name, surely he could easily go by Liam? (I think a few famous William's are known as Liam). I do think the full William's a much nicer name though- it's one of those totally timeless names with such an incredible history and namesakes.

Insuranceheadache · 09/11/2023 00:30

Looks quite a lot like Willy Bums.

MinnieL · 09/11/2023 00:34

Pick another name

CavalierApproach · 09/11/2023 00:39

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 07/11/2023 08:04

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)

peaceinourtime · 09/11/2023 10:09

Willy/ie is fine name it’s a shame that it’s also a slang term for genitalia.

ColleenDonaghy · 09/11/2023 10:13

MadamVastra · 07/11/2023 23:17

Oh good grief op please don't

i also think what were Mike Racks (f1) parents thinking of as well!

Yes!! I don't think I'll ever see that poor man's name without an internal snigger and headshake at his parents.

FirstFallopians · 09/11/2023 10:28

I’m from a place where Willie is a common nickname for William and even then it wouldn’t occur to me to think it’s an odd name combo.

When I was at school there were plenty of kids who had odd or unusual name combinations, but I don’t remember anyone being teased- it was too obvious.

Ones that did get mocked were mispronunciations or clangers from teachers - our Latin teacher used to call lads Master <Surname> and one day without thinking he called out for Chris Bates in the same way. Bates got called Master Bates for the next six years. There was nothing his parents could’ve done when naming him to foresee that!

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 09/11/2023 10:43

I work with a Billy Burns. Red headed scot, the name suit him down to the ground!

wherethewildtbingsgo · 09/11/2023 11:52

FirstFallopians · 09/11/2023 10:28

I’m from a place where Willie is a common nickname for William and even then it wouldn’t occur to me to think it’s an odd name combo.

When I was at school there were plenty of kids who had odd or unusual name combinations, but I don’t remember anyone being teased- it was too obvious.

Ones that did get mocked were mispronunciations or clangers from teachers - our Latin teacher used to call lads Master <Surname> and one day without thinking he called out for Chris Bates in the same way. Bates got called Master Bates for the next six years. There was nothing his parents could’ve done when naming him to foresee that!

It's not about the name Willie!!! It's about the surname BURNS when combined with Willie!!

If a teenage boy sees the opportunity to take the mick then they will. An obvious opportunity for taking the mick would be to have a name like William and a surname like Burns!

Honestly this thread is very frustrating with so many people not getting that the question isn't about the name Willie in isolation.

FirstFallopians · 09/11/2023 14:51

wherethewildtbingsgo · 09/11/2023 11:52

It's not about the name Willie!!! It's about the surname BURNS when combined with Willie!!

If a teenage boy sees the opportunity to take the mick then they will. An obvious opportunity for taking the mick would be to have a name like William and a surname like Burns!

Honestly this thread is very frustrating with so many people not getting that the question isn't about the name Willie in isolation.

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Yes, I understand that 🙄

I just think the name William Burns is completely normal, and unlikely in 2023 to illicit teasing.

Needmorelego · 09/11/2023 15:22

@FirstFallopians I agree and as I said upthread by the time it would be the age of potential teasing boys tend to call each other by a variation of their surname.
He will be Burnsy or Burno probably.