So, after posting an earlier thread and getting some great ideas from you all, my husband and I have been having the dreaded boys name discussion for our second son due in [name_f]April[/name_f] and we have finally agreed on a name - [name_m]William[/name_m], nn [name_m]Will[/name_m].
Our first son is [name_m]Xavier[/name_m], nn Xav (pronounced Xave). I have always really liked the name [name_m]William[/name_m], and I think that Xav and [name_m]Will[/name_m] sound good together as brothers, but I keep second guessing it as [name_m]William[/name_m] is currently #1 where we live and I HATE the idea of naming our child a name that is too popular, let alone the #1 name! The one saving grace is that our surname is very unusual, so it’s not like there would be another child with the exact same name. [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] certainly isn’t super unusual where we live, it’s currently at #23.
Other names we both like are [name_u]Ari[/name_u], [name_m]Nash[/name_m], [name_m]Knox[/name_m], [name_m]Felix[/name_m], (although I am not 100% on this one as it makes me think of the cat), and [name_m]Lucas[/name_m].
So, what are your thoughts firstly on [name_m]William[/name_m] and secondly on the importance of considering popularity? If you love a name enough, should popularity really matter?
[name_f]IMO[/name_f] if you love it that much popularity shouldn’t make a difference. Think of it this way, later on would you ever say to yourself, “I wish we just would have used [name_m]William[/name_m]?” I love [name_m]William[/name_m], it’s my second son’s middle name and also a very big name in my family. I think [name_m]William[/name_m] is so popular because it is a classic, strong name.
[name_m]William[/name_m] is a great name, and popularity shouldn’t matter. Why should what other people are naming their children have any impact on what you choose? If you love it, use it!
If you really love that name [name_m]William[/name_m], just go ahead and name him that. You are right, [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] do sound like good brother names. But, I wouldn’t worry too much about popularity in your area because if you do wind up living in a different area, that factor wont really matter unless [name_m]William[/name_m] is popular. My name is very popular in my area so when we moved, that whole common name thing didn’t move with us and I now have a unique name in my area. Also, if you feel comfortable with it, you could give him a middle name (if you didn’t already) and just call him by that.
I hope I could help,
Good [name_m]Luck[/name_m]!!! 
I adore [name_m]William[/name_m], but it’s off our list. Partly because of popularity, but also because our surname starts with M and the names would blend too much. Popularity is very important to me. My child’s name doesn’t have to be outside the top 1,000 or anything, but names in the top ten are definitely off my list. I just think it’s so boring when someone announces their baby’s name and it’s another [name_m]William[/name_m] or [name_m]Jack[/name_m] or [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. Yawn.
I also love the name [name_m]William[/name_m], I wanted to use it but husband says no.
I do remember asking my mom when I was a child, why she gave my sister an unusual name, while I was stuck with an extremely popular name ([name_f]Jessica[/name_f]).
I also love the name [name_m]William[/name_m] but it’s off my list due to it being a family name and me already having two cousins named [name_m]William[/name_m] with more likely to being named [name_m]William[/name_m] in the future. If you really love a name I don’t think that popularity should play a part at all. One of my favourite boy names is pretty popular in NZ and if I had a son today I would name him it no matter who popular it is.
I love [name_m]William[/name_m]! It’s timeless and I don’t think you should be bothered with popularity. Pair it with a more uncommon name if you want something more contemporary.
I absolutely adore [name_m]William[/name_m], it’s my #1 boy name and I think it’s absolutely fab 
I wouldn’t give two hoots about popularity. [name_m]William[/name_m]'s a solid, classic name and it’ll never date. If it became the #1 name in my country, I’d still use it. I don’t see what’s so bad about popularity anyway. Your [name_m]William[/name_m] may meet a few others with ‘his’ name in the future (many of whom could be Billys & Liams, not [name_m]Wills[/name_m])- big deal. What’s important is that you and your husband really loved it, it fits in with his brother etc. And ‘boring’ is a matter of opinion. I personally find that the idea that the top 10 is tainted is very boring
I don’t mind [name_m]William[/name_m] as a middle name but it’s too popular for me as a first name! I just think looking at [name_m]William[/name_m] it’s a completely different style to [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] and I wouldn’t ever put those names together as brothers. However, you might not be concerned about that so if not I say use [name_m]William[/name_m] because you may one day regret it if it’s the name you love.
I think [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] & [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] would be perfect together, maybe [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]?
I love [name_m]William[/name_m]! And [name_m]Will[/name_m] is such a handsome nickname! Yes, it’s popular, but it’s also a classic and people recognize that it’s a great name. [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] would be an adorable set of brothers. Go for it!
[name_m]Xavier[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] are very nice together. I also like [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] and [name_m]Lucas[/name_m].
A comment about the popularity of the name [name_m]William[/name_m]: I would be wary of #1 names. I’ll give you an example of why… I’m 34 and I probably have at least a half dozen close friends or relatives named [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], which was the #1 girl name for several years around the time I was born, and I’m casual friends with another half dozen. This is a lot of Jennifers and they have a limited number of nicknames to distinguish themselves. It’ll be the same with [name_m]William[/name_m]. I’d avoid, unless you have a really catchy nickname for him that you think he’ll stick with.