What do you guys think of the name [name_u]Billy[/name_u]? I really like the name, and want to add it to my list. The problem is, I can’t use the name [name_m]William[/name_m], so what other names can [name_u]Billy[/name_u] come from? I wouldn’t consider using [name_u]Billy[/name_u] as a full name, and don’t like the name [name_m]Bill[/name_m].
Any ideas?
can’t you use [name_m]William[/name_m]? [name_m]Willem[/name_m]? [name_m]Wilbur[/name_m]? [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m]?
[name_u]Billy[/name_u] is kind of cute, but you can’t expect a grown man to use such a name. Cute for a boy, but he needs a real name for adulthood.
Why not name him something substantial and have [name_u]Billy[/name_u] as a middle name and your own pet name for him?
I know a man named [name_m]William[/name_m] that has never went by anything but [name_u]Billy[/name_u]. Never once have I thought “Wow, what a childish nickname for a man” when talking to him.
He’s even told me he would never consider going by [name_m]William[/name_m] or [name_m]Will[/name_m]. So know that if you plan on that only being a child’s nickname, it could be a permanent one!
@alwaysbeen I don’t mind if it becomes a permanent nickname, I like the name, 
@lesliemarion I can’t use [name_m]William[/name_m] as a first name for private reasons. But I could probably use [name_m]Wilbur[/name_m] or [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m] as middle names. I just don’t really like the sound of them. Are there any other names where you can get the nn [name_u]Billy[/name_u]?
Umm, maybe [name_m]Wilder[/name_m] “[name_u]Billy[/name_u]”, though I think “[name_m]Willy[/name_m]” makes more sense.
Here’s a thought: Give him the first name you like, and just call him [name_u]Billy[/name_u]. There’s no rule that says the NN has to be some derivative of the FN.
I’m a [name_m]Robert[/name_m], called [name_u]Bobby[/name_u] by family…but outsiders quickly shortened it as I grew up…which I hated…and professionally (I’m a doctor) it was too immature sounding, so I became a [name_m]Robert[/name_m] to the world, and remain [name_u]Bobby[/name_u] to loved ones.
The moral there is that life has a way of changing our best made name plans, so plan accordingly. Give him a name that will work forever, and call him whatever you like.
[name_m]Abel[/name_m] —> [name_u]Billy[/name_u]?