Benjamin and William

[American12]

hi
pregnant with another boy and already have a William we call William mostly sometimes Will. People keep telling me I can’t have Benjamin because of the Bill and Ben issue! Have even seen it mentioned on here! Is that really a problem seeing as we don’t call our William Bill?

I know someone with William and Benjamin. Not aware they have had an issue!

Didn’t even occur to me. I think they’re both gorgeous names.

Thank you I think so too! Have always loved both but people are making me second guess myself. I could understand if our William was Bill but he isnt!

No it's fine. A lot of people won't even know about Bill and Ben now anyway.

Hands up everyone below the age of 60 who knows who Bill and Ben were. 🤚🏻

No-one else? Thought not.

I would notice the Bill/Ben connection, but I wouldn't see that as an issue or a problem and it wouldn't stop me choosing the name I loved. There's nothing negative about Bill and Ben, it's just a fun connection. And you are already using Will instead of Bill.

My two nephews’ names. 😁 Naturally it’s a ‘those are perfect!’ from me. Bill and Ben never remotely came to mind!

It wouldn’t have occurred to me - Bill isn’t exactly a common nickname for children nowadays! Bill & Ben is hardly a bad association anyway, it’s a sweet show (is it even on anymore? It was on when my sister was little)

Lovely names and I didn't think of Bill and Ben at all and am of that generation

Total none issue. They are two traditional classics which go well together. They won't be known as Bill and Ben but even if the odd person did make that connection and comment who cares? It's hardly a negative connotation (I've heard of people calling twins Ronnie and Reggie for God's sake!).

Their peers certainly won't make the connection.

I think it is perhaps an age thing. People of my age upwards will probably recollect Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men from their childhood and therefore make the link. I doubt my children would make the same link.

It's fine.

I must admit I did immediately think of Bill and Ben but so what. As long as you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

It did have a remake on Cbeebies when my daughter (now 20) was little, so she remembers it.

That said though I wouldn't make the association between William and Benjamin. I think it's absolutely fine. (I have a William too).

I'm 29 and have heard of Bill and Ben, but I'd only think it was weird if you referred to them as 'Will and Ben'. If you call them William and Benjamin/Ben or Ben and William, I don't think there's an issue!

I think it would only be an issue if you planned to call them Bill and Ben. I don’t think I’d have ever made the association with Will and Ben.

Also, someone made a good point on here on another thread, the amount of time during which they will be regularly referred to together is limited.