Ben and William - Bill and Ben connotations?

[Naetha]

DS1 is called Ben, and we're expecting DC2 later this year.

We'd semi-decided on the name William if it was a boy and were really happy with that, until the whole Bill and Ben thing came up.

Do you think it would be an issue? Chances are he'd never get called Bill, it would be Will or William, and he'd be the younger so it would be Ben and Will...

Or is William too royal these days?

Other names we like are Dexter (although DH is worried that it's too American / too chavvy for Yorkshire) and Rob (although we don't really like Robin and Robert!).

Thoughts?

Alternative names?

It's fine. Don't worry about it.

I think William is a lovely classic name, that would be shortened to Will, never Bill. Bill is what it was shortened to roughly when bill and ben first came on the scene.

I don't like Dexter (sorry) I realised most of the boys names I like are really poncey and effeminate though so I may not be the best person to give advice! (Lucian, Tristan, Nicolas, Joshua, James, Theodore, Javier, Ruben, Gabriel...ok I'll stop)

I know a sibset with a Ben and a William. I think the names go well together and William is always shortened to Will not Bill!

Thats so funny, I've just logged on to the babynames threads looking for inspiration as I'm expecting another boy in 2 weeks and our 1st is called Ben too. We also love William as a name but had previously ruled it out for the same reason. (We also live in Yorkshire!) Now, as we are struggling to decided on another name, and from the responses here, maybe it would be ok! I think when the baby is a bit older with their own friends it wouldnt be much of a problem. It is a great name.

Our other names are Craig, Fergus, Hunter, Harris, Forbes and Elliot.

Good luck, would love to know what you decide.

If you then have a DD she could be Daisy aka Little Weed.

I like Will but maybe Sam, Luke, Ross or Joe would go well too?

We've got a William Benjamin so he is both Bill and Ben!! He is always Will or William and never Bill!

If you really like it i'd go with it.

Have to say i love the name Sam as jellybeans suggested. Would've called our ds2 that, but we've already named one of the dogs it .

Our ds1 is Ben too by the way, that's why i liked Sam too.

We have a William, who has just turned 2, and he has never been called Bill. Only recently have started calling him Will. Tbh I don't think anyone has ever mentioned Bill.

Stick with William. (Although be warned, they can be tearways)