Billy

[Rombo1]

What do you think of Billy as a name on its own rather than a nickname for William?

I like Billy but not William

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

Billy Bookcase, Billy Bunter, Silly Billy.

[bleurghblah]

I fucking LOVE the name billy

[HenriettaTurkey]

Love it.

We have a Bill.

[confusedfrillysock]

It's ace. Registering as William gives him more options later if he wants. We know a few - it's cool

[Sophronia]

I like it, but I do prefer it as a nickname.

[bleurghblah]

But actually having read the rest of your post, I think you have to have a proper name rather than just a nickname.

[CPtart]

Dislike, in the same vein as Alfie, Archie, Charlie, Freddie, etc.
William is lovely.

[fledermaus]

I really like it, but I would probably put the full name on the birth certificate.

[squoosh]

I like Billy and for some reason don't fine it as twee as Alfie et al.

[twinjocks]

I love it - and fine as a name in its own right.

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

DP's cousin called her DS3 Billy a few months ago and we all wondered if he would be William but Billy for short. But she's gone with Billy as his given name - I'm not sure, but it's growing on me. My friend called her DS2 Tommy and I'm still not sure about that.

[Gingerjv]

it sounds fine on ti's own!

[fluffydoge]

It sounds fine on it's own but not sure it would suit a grown man. It seems a bit too cute for me. I just can't image a professional man being called billy, it's good to give him options for later on in life.

[suitsyousir]

My DS7 is Billy and was registered as such. William(and its variations) are a family thing on my side (my middle name is william) but we just decided on Billy. Top name!

[thegreylady]

I know two who are just Billy. One is 9 and one is a baby. It is a lovely name.

[rachel234]

How do you get Billy from William? Isn't Will & Willy short for William (and Bill short for Billiam )?

[confusedfrillysock]

Billy is appearing more and more often as an adult name in professional circles. Future solicitors and doctors will all be Archie Alfie Freddie, daisy, poppy, Lola, lulu etc.

[Toohotforfishandchips]

My Billy loves being a Billy. He is a William (family name) but I am never sure he will ever use it. His sister calls him Bill which is also cool. I wasn't sure but can't imagine it any other way now. I think world of work is now so full of names of every type and origin that it's less relevant

[baggyb]

I taught a Billy and he was a nightmare so it's a big no from me!

[Toohotforfishandchips]

I suspect every teacher has a list of banned names

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

love it.
I love William too. I'd give William on birth certificate and forget about it if you want. I like Bill too.
I have an Edward who is only ever Teddy or Ted. People are surprised to know he's called Edward, so if you don't like William all that much, it won't matter much, and gives him more options as he gets older.
Incidentally, I don't like Will at all...!

[bakinggood]

I like Billy and William.

[ApplebyMennym]

I have an irrational dislike of Billy. It brings to mind a cartoonish sore throbbing thumb, as I remember old books saying that something "hurt like billy-o". Yes, a bit weird I know.

William is nice ish but I would only go with Will for a nickname.

[MrsCosmopilite]

Sorry, I am in the camp of not liking 'shortened' names as given names. I have no problem with them being nicknames but I just feel that they may limit the child's choices when they're older.

I know an Alfie, a Bobby, a Billy, a Bobbie, and a Charlie. The Billy and Charlie are now late teens and don't like their names.