William, Eric or Albert? Help me to choose

[ThatLilacExpert]

Has anyone been through a situation where you cannot decide on your baby boy name because you like three names all the same?
I live in the UK and would like a British name but with an international feel. I think these 3 names fit that, however I cannot decide on one. Which of these 3 would you choose? Eric? William? Albert? Why? Please don’t give me a 4th option as it would make my life even harder. :-) I appreciate your comments and insights! 😘

I love William but then he is my DGS

I like William as it's my DS middle name. He has friends that are called William (Will), they don't get called Willie or teased. It's a family name from my Grandad (who also wasn't teased so dont know what the other poster meant 🤷).

Agree! If they immediately think of Willy for Will they might have a problem with their sexuality. Freud explains…

Eric is awesome. Use Erik.

Prince Albert was Queen Victoria's husband. No idea where you are getting the idea that it's a left-wing name. William is a timeless classic with no left or right wing political associations at all. My favourite by far from the OP's list.

Sorry op for me Eric is awful (and same as pp) it reminds me of Cowell.

Not keen on Albert either, but I do like Albie as a nn.

William is ok, just a bit....balding 40yr old. (I'm older, not being ageist!) but best of your bunch. "Will" does however sound younger.

Have you thought about nicknames, or will you try and stick to full name as long as you can?

It’s just the vibe I get from the names, I’m a teacher and have gotten pretty good when I see a child’s name on a class list at imagining what the parents will be like! Most of the parents I know who’ve called their children William are middle class and right wing leaning. The only parents I know who’ve called their children Albert in recent years are liberal hippy types. Obviously I do appreciate this is a generalisation though and also who names are popular with may be different in other areas of the country. William has royal vibes for me because it’s the name of the current heir to the throne so ‘currently’ royal if that makes sense. Obviously these are just the connotations the names bring up for me based on the children I know with those names.

William by a country mile.

William by a country mile.

Albert is OK.

Eric isn't nice imo.

I think your post is a joke or wind up tbh.
if not, no need to be so rude as they're all classic names and have been in use and popular for hundreds of years.

@Terrribletwos what you think is rubbish and makes no sense. You are being rather disrespectful and irrelevant. Get a life and don’t need to come back here. You will be reported!!!

I know you said not to give you a fourth option, but have you considered Alaric? It’s an awesome name and combines Eric and Albert nicely.

Of the three you’ve mentioned, I’d probably pick Albert (with Bertie as a shortening when he’s little) but I like them all.

I love Eric and you can’t go wrong with William.

Personally I really dislike Albert, though it’s obviously fine as a name.

William unfortunately does get shortened to Willy by puerile primary school children. Its such an obvious shortening

I live in NW England and...

I know of multiple children called William, it's a totally normal and commonly used name.

Eric doesn't seem to have made a comeback like a lot of "granddad" names have but after the initial "oh, I've not heard that name for a while" it wouldn't raise any eyebrows.

I know of a few Albert's too. One is Albie and three are Bertie. It's almost as popular as William where I live. No one seems to use the full name in day to day life.

Eric is my favourite.
Albie is cute as a nn for Albert but I don’t particularly like Albert.
William is a no for me, too popular and not nice.

I forgot to add that if I had to judge the three names

William - totally lovely name and probably my favourite from your three but they will possibly be one of multiple in the school and possibly class.

Eric - not my favourite for a child but it's one of my top names for if I get a dog or a cat.

Albert - ok but I prefer William.

Love Eric - it’s a bit different without being wacky. William is pleasant enough. Not keen on Albert (can’t get past Prince Albert connotations). If you like Bertie then maybe consider Robert with nn Bertie.

I think William is the best. It's a classic name, and Willy wouldn't be enough to stop me using it - most Williams tend to go by Will, Bill or Billy at some point. Anyway, if it's good enough for the future king...! (His brother calls him Willy, and he calls him Harold!)

Albert is OK and would work anywhere I think. Do you like Albie or Bertie?

I know of a small Eric, so clearly there are some around. It doesn't compare to your other two though. It still sounds like a dad name to me, and not in a good way. I could imagine the names of some of Eric's peers coming back soon (Stephen, Andrew, Christopher), but I don't think Eric is due a revival yet.

I have an Albert ☺️. Surprisingly nobody calls him Bert or Bertie, but a few shorten it to Albs.

I like William and know a couple who have it shortened to Will. Really don't like Eric or Albert, but then they remind me of my dead great uncles. I'm not a fan of a lot of the popular wartime names I'm afraid.

@Terrribletwos , is your post a joke? They are ordinary names. Of all the Williams I know not one is Willy. There are loads of Albies around. Both are royal names.

I like Eric best because it won't get shortened.

I'd decide by the possible shortening of the name:
William - Will, Bill, Billy, Liam
Albert - Albie, Al, Bert, Bertie
Eric

That's why I prefer Eric! Great name that can't be shortened to something silly like Willie, Albie or Bertie!!

Of all the Williams I know not one is Willy.

Then you've not spent much time in primary school playgrounds