Respondents: 36 (This poll is closed)
Maybe you can convince him to reserve it for the middle? [name_m]William[/name_m] makes a dashing middle name. Then you’d be free to choose a more stylish first name. And [name_m]William[/name_m] does have a lovely meaning and tons of history behind it.
If you do use a [name_m]William[/name_m] variant, [name_m]Liam[/name_m] is probably your most on-trend bet in today’s baby name world.
I think [name_u]Billy[/name_u] is cute and sweet and so uncommon now! It would be cute to meet a little [name_u]Billy[/name_u].
[name_m]Guillermo[/name_m]/ Guillerme is the Spanish version… perhaps you can do something with those? Memo is a cute and sweet nickname. And it sounds so unique!
[name_f]My[/name_f] only other ideas are [name_m]Willis[/name_m] and [name_m]Wilkes[/name_m].
[name_m]Will[/name_m], [name_m]Willem[/name_m], [name_u]Willoughby[/name_u],[name_m]Willis[/name_m] or Wixon?
Same meaning (protection / protector):
[name_m]Ansel[/name_m], [name_m]Esmond[/name_m], [name_m]Anselm[/name_m], [name_u]Ray[/name_u], [name_m]Eamon[/name_m], [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], [name_m]Redmond[/name_m], [name_m]Raymond[/name_m].
Maybe have [name_m]William[/name_m] in the middle?
What do you think of Wilco/ [name_m]Wilko[/name_m]?
It’s a dutch/ german variation and I think its more interesting that [name_m]William[/name_m] and more masculine that the [name_m]Willy[/name_m]/ [name_m]Willi[/name_m]/ [name_u]Willie[/name_u] variations.
Also, his older brother is [name_u]Billy[/name_u] so I think he’d want to branch out more or just stick with the original [name_m]William[/name_m].
Also, and maybe I’m just grasping at straws, but what do you think of similar sounding names? I’m considering adding [name_m]Weylan[/name_m] (variation of [name_m]Waylon[/name_m]) which I think is reminiscent of [name_m]William[/name_m] but not a direct derivative. Thoughts?
[name_f]My[/name_f] first thoughts were [name_m]Liam[/name_m] or [name_m]Wilder[/name_m].
I love [name_m]Liam[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] and [name_m]Liam[/name_m] [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m]. Is your husband ok with [name_m]Liam[/name_m], or does he strongly prefer that the letters ‘wil’ be part of the name? Only one I can think of that hasn’t been named is [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m]. Or you could switch it up from [name_m]Willy[/name_m] to [name_u]Wally[/name_u] maybe? [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] nn [name_u]Wally[/name_u]? [name_f]My[/name_f] father’s side of the family had a tradition of [name_f]Lulu[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Leila[/name_f] variations a for a few generations. So I think switching the vowel [name_m]Wiley[/name_m] and [name_u]Wally[/name_u] work.
First thing I thought was [name_m]Liam[/name_m] or [name_m]Will[/name_m]. With [name_m]Willis[/name_m], I think he’d get tired of hearing, “Whatchu talkin’ bout, [name_m]Willis[/name_m]?” Lol. I like the name Wilco/[name_m]Wilko[/name_m]. It’s got character. As someone’s already suggested, , maybe you could use [name_m]William[/name_m] as the mn? 
[name_m]Liam[/name_m] sounds like a great option for you. [name_m]Wiley[/name_m] is a great name and I would have voted for it, but not with [name_m]Scott[/name_m], because it sounds exactly like wily [name_m]Scot[/name_m], as in a cunning Scotsman.
What about [name_m]Wills[/name_m]?
From your list I prefer [name_m]Liam[/name_m]. I think [name_m]William[/name_m] is a great middle name, my son is [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m].
[name_m]Liam[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]!
I think [name_m]Liam[/name_m] is your best bet. [name_m]Liam[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] is very handsome.
[name_m]Liam[/name_m] is a wonderful option.
If you want to “branch out” even farther, [name_m]Elmo[/name_m] can be derived from great-grandfather [name_m]Wilhelm[/name_m]'s name. If it’s not too [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_m]Street[/name_m] for you, it’s a great name, recognizable but uncommon, and (like [name_m]Liam[/name_m]) clearly distinct from the [name_m]Wil[/name_m]- variants. [name_m]Elmo[/name_m] keeps popping in and out of our top 5, but if I were in your situation, it’s what I would use.