Need Baby Boy Name Help

SamJlf1122 · February 2012

So after having a conversation with my DH, we are stuck between two baby boy first names:

William- My grandfather passed away a few weeks ago, this was his first name, it also happens to be my fathers middle name and my DH loves it. His reasoning is I really want Liam for a first name and if we use William we can call him Liam for short.

Liam- I have had my heart set on this name since I found out I was pregnant.

ipookie8 · February 2012

I like William, then call him Liam for short.

becky679 · February 2012

William and Liam give off two totally different vibes though- sure Liam can be his nickname that YOU want- but grandma wants willy, and aunty now calls him Billy...If you want people to call him Liam, name him Liam

lyo4785 · February 2012

I really like Liam. It is actually a form of William anyway so you're getting both

jrgoogrl · February 2012

becky679:
William and Liam give off two totally different vibes though- sure Liam can be his nickname that YOU want- but grandma wants willy, and aunty now calls him Billy...If you want people to call him Liam, name him Liam

I agree with this! Nicknames can be difficult because with a name like William he can be called: Willie, Will, Billy, Bill, Liam....and most of the time it's not the one you want it to be.

Beth1031 · February 2012

I agree with pp that if you name him William, even if you want him to be called Liam, it doesn't necessarily mean that everyone will call him that... There are a number of nick-names (some you may not like) that you will have to fight your family on or just suck it up and deal with. Also I think it is a sweet idea to honor your grandfather by naming your son after him, but it can be hard for a child being named after someone, especially loved one... They may feel pressure to live up to the image everyone has of his Greatgrand father, and constantly compared to him. Liam is part of the name William, if you have your heart set on that, I would go with that. My grandfather's name was Julian, in my family I have several cousins "named" after him to honor him (He passed before they were born) so we have a Julie Ann, Jillian etc.. They are still honoring him, but making the name unique and personal still for thier chidren.

Indy15 · February 2012

becky679:
William and Liam give off two totally different vibes though- sure Liam can be his nickname that YOU want- but grandma wants willy, and aunty now calls him Billy...If you want people to call him Liam, name him Liam

i agree completely

FamilyIsLove · February 2012

I love William. It's in my family as well but I can't use it since my brother has the name -- i dont' want to steal his future son's name.

P.S. I would name him William and call him William. It's not that long of a name that you need to shorten it. Sounds wondeful the way it is.

mrsjenni · February 2012

Liam all the way. And you're still honoring your family by using that name.

workingmama · February 2012

I think if you name him William and call him Liam from the start - correcting anyone who does otherwise - you will be just fine. Even when he is older (sixth grade, maybe?) and kids discover his full first name, I don't see people calling someone they know as Liam "Willy." I would go for it. Both are great names.

WiFeY 4 LiFeY · February 2012

I think it would be very sweet to honor your grandpa and dad with William, and use Liam as a NN. Both names are good!

mamayo26 · February 2012

William and Liam give off two totally different vibes though- sure Liam can be his nickname that YOU want- but grandma wants willy, and aunty now calls him Billy...If you want people to call him Liam, name him Liam

I don't agree with the nickname part of this post...my parents named me Angela Nicole and called me Nikki (I was almost never called my first or middle name by anyone-even when I was in trouble).

I will say though that it was a pain growing up and having to explain why I was called Nikki when my first name was Angela (and I actually legally changed my name dropping Angela and Nicole when I got married).

Just something else to think about. Hope this helps and you and your hubby can come to a decision you are both happy with for your LO.

libra31 · February 2012

workingmama:
I think if you name him William and call him Liam from the start - correcting anyone who does otherwise - you will be just fine. Even when he is older (sixth grade, maybe?) and kids discover his full first name, I don't see people calling someone they know as Liam "Willy." I would go for it. Both are great names.

I agree with this. I would give him the family name of William. I really think you are in control of what people call him. If he's Liam from the get go you won't have a problem- most people won't even know he's William.

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