William

All you need to know about me is that I’m a minor who will soon be getting his legal name changed. I love the name [name_m]William[/name_m]. Besides the advice to “follow my heart”, I’m looking for others’ opinions. Any and all opinions on the name [name_m]William[/name_m]. [name_m]Feel[/name_m] free to please answer these questions.

  1. Is this name too much of an “old man” name?
  2. Which of the common nicknames do you prefer, if any?
  3. What do you imagine a guy with this name to look like?
  4. What “vibes” do you get from this name, if any?
  5. Ignoring statistics, do you see this name as popular?
  6. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you know anyone named [name_m]William[/name_m]? If so, what is he like?
  7. If you had a son, would you name him [name_m]William[/name_m]?
  8. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think this name could be seen as and/or made into a joke?

I’m aware these all may seem silly, I’m just trying to think of everything in my range at once. Society is scary. Thank you.

Most of the [name_m]Williams[/name_m] I know are under 30, so I don’t see it as an old man name at all. I think it’s one of those names that are so classic that it doesn’t seem out of place at all in any age group.

My impression is also that [name_m]William[/name_m] is solid, well-known name rather than extremely popular. If I had to guess (haven’t looked anything up), it’s one of those that tend to stay in the top 100 but usually aren’t the most popular choice.

I love the simple nickname [name_m]Will[/name_m] - sounds friendly and straightforward. [name_m]William[/name_m] is also such a well-know name that I doubt anyone would get teased for it. I would, absolutely, be happy to call my son [name_m]William[/name_m].

  1. Is this name too much of an “old man” name?
    No, it feels classic as opposed to old man

  2. Which of the common nicknames do you prefer, if any?
    [name_u]Billy[/name_u]

  3. What do you imagine a guy with this name to look like?
    Anything really. It’s versatile and popular

  4. What “vibes” do you get from this name, if any?
    Studious and quite serious

  5. Ignoring statistics, do you see this name as popular?
    Yes

  6. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you know anyone named William? If so, what is he like?

I’ve known several kids called [name_m]William[/name_m]. Some have been quiet and sweet, one was a bit wild.

  1. If you had a son, would you name him William?
    No

  2. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think this name could be seen as and/or made into a joke?
    No

If my SO and I have a son, we are dead set on naming him [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m], so I would 100% use it. I know a few [name_m]Williams[/name_m], all are under the age of 40, and all of them go by [name_m]Will[/name_m] (which is my preferred nickname for it). Given how many [name_m]Williams[/name_m] I know, I’m guessing it’s fairly popular, but I definitely know more [name_m]Harrys[/name_m], Jacks, Noahs, etc.
I don’t really have a set idea of what a [name_m]William[/name_m] looks like because all of the ones I know are quite different from each other, but all of them are lovely, so I only get positive ‘vibes’.

Welcome to Nameberry!

  1. Definitely not! I know people all across the age spectrum with this name. It’s very traditional and classic, but I don’t think of it as an old man name at all.
  2. I like [name_m]Will[/name_m] or [name_u]Liam[/name_u]! [name_u]Billy[/name_u] is ok. The only one I can think of that I’m not a big fan of is [name_m]Bill[/name_m]. And I’ve never heard this one used before, but I think [name_m]Leo[/name_m]/Lio could also work!
  3. I don’t really have a specific image in my head–this name seems very malleable/flexible to me.
  4. Traditional and classic; royal yet down-to-earth.
  5. Yes, very. See next answer.
  6. I have known a lot of [name_m]Williams[/name_m], to the point that I really have no specific association with the name.
  7. No, but not because there’s anything wrong with it by any means! It’s just not my style; I tend to prefer slightly less classic/royal names. It’s a very nice name though!
  8. Not unless people were getting very creative, lol. This one doesn’t seem at all tease-prone. It’s a solid, familiar, perennial, can’t-go-wrong classic.

I hope this helps–good luck!

I have a smidgen of bias, my ex was named [name_m]William[/name_m], he went by [name_m]Bill[/name_m]. Funnily enough, my dog growing up was named [name_u]Willie[/name_u]. I’ll do my best to provide opinions without that clouding it too much.

It’s definitely not an “old man” name. It is very timeless and classic, and will suit anyone - baby to elder.

My preferred nickname is [name_m]Will[/name_m]. [name_u]Liam[/name_u] is also okay, but is so popular on it’s own that I wouldn’t personally use it. I think the chosen nickname kind of determines the vibe it gives off. [name_f]My[/name_f] ex went by [name_m]Bill[/name_m], but that was because that is what his mom chose when he was a baby. He always thought of it as redneck-ish (which he hated) and tried to switch to [name_m]Will[/name_m] (which he saw as more artistic) but it didn’t stick.

The nickname for [name_m]William[/name_m] are probably more likely to get jokes - we call our dog “silly [name_u]Willie[/name_u] walnut” lovingly. [name_f]My[/name_f] ex got [name_m]Bill[/name_m] [name_m]Nye[/name_m] the [name_u]Science[/name_u] [name_m]Guy[/name_m] a lot. And “pay your [name_m]Bill[/name_m]” sometimes too. Nothing horrible, but kids will make up nicknames for ANYTHING.

  1. No. [name_f]My[/name_f] grandpa was [name_m]William[/name_m] and his father was also [name_m]William[/name_m] but so is one of my friends And a few guys from school (24), my uncle (55?), and a kid I used to take care of (7) so it’s pretty intergenerational to me.

  2. My friend goes by [name_m]Will[/name_m], which feels youthful. [name_f]My[/name_f] uncle goes by [name_u]Bo[/name_u] now and then which I really like.

  3. Could literally be anyone/anything in my opinion. Very versatile.

  4. See above. No specific vibes because it’s so versatile.

  5. I think it’s familiar but not super common. I knew 3 growing up but they all felt like distinct people and each went by different versions of the name.

  6. All are kind, tend to be athletic, and my grandpa was a marine so I tend to think a little strict. But I don’t want to generalize because they all are/were different people.

  7. No, but only because it’s been used enough in my family, and my brother is [name_u]Liam[/name_u]. Maybe I’d use it as a middle name

  8. Any name could be made into a joke. I wouldn’t let it stop me from using a name I like, so long as it isn’t the only thing people think of when they come across the name. We jokingly call my friend [name_m]Will[/name_m].I.Am sometimes, which he is (haha).

  1. William is a timeless name! Perfect for all ages.
  2. I love [name_m]Will[/name_m] and [name_u]Liam[/name_u]. I’m not crazy about [name_u]Billy[/name_u]/Billie.
  3. I can’t imagine what a baby/boy/man would look like. He could be tall, short, blond, red headed, white, black,… He could be funny, a perfectionist, shy, a very talkative person, a good dancer, a good cooker, a cinema lover, a surfist, a person that loves to hike or ride a horse. He could have grey or green eyes, he could like in [name_f]Africa[/name_f] or [name_f]Asia[/name_f], he could be a newborn or a 90 years old man, he could speak [name_u]French[/name_u] or Xhosa, he could be a shepherd or a lawyer,…
  4. It’s a elegant, charming and timeless name!
  5. Yes, [name_m]William[/name_m] is a very popular name.
  6. Unfortunately, I do not. Not in person.
  7. I would definitely consider the name, if I lived in an [name_f]English[/name_f] speaking country.
  8. No, I don’t think so.