Nickname William: Bill, Will | WordReference Forums

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You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. nickname William: Bill, Will

• Thread starter Thread starter asaisaio
• Start date Start date Jul 16, 2014

A

asaisaio

Banned

Chinese For example, the dictionary says that "Bill" is the nickname of "William". I was wondering what it means? Does it mean only in unofficial or informal occasion can I call a person whose name is William "Bill"? If in formal or official occasion, can't I call him "Bill"? If that's true, why have I been heard "Bill Clinton" in news (but I saw his name is William in Wikipedia)? Is a person's nickname his name (If I name a person William, do I simultaneously name him Bill)? When can I call him nickname?

Miss Julie

Senior Member

Chicago metro area English-U.S. Bill Clinton's birth name is William, but he prefers to be called Bill...that's all. However, you can't assume someone named William wants you to call him Bill, whatever the occasion may be. You ask the person what he prefers to be called (if he doesn't tell you first). Last edited: Jul 16, 2014 A

asaisaio

Banned

Chinese

Miss Julie said: Bill Clinton's birth name is William, but he prefers to be called Bill, that's all. However, you can't assume someone named William wants you to call him Bill, whatever the occasion may be. You ask the person what he prefers to be called. Click to expand...

But I still want to know whether anyone who has a name "William" also simultaneously has a name "Bill", because the dictionary says Bill is the nickname of William, which means that a person will have two names if he was named as "William". H

Hildy1

Senior Member

English - US and Canada Another nickname for William is Will. But as Miss Julie says, it's a matter of what the person wants to be called.

Miss Julie

Senior Member

Chicago metro area English-U.S.

asaisaio said: But I still want to know whether anyone who has a name "William" also simultaneously has a name "Bill", because the dictionary says Bill is the nickname of William, which means that a person will have two names if he was named as "William". Click to expand...

Not always. Many people named William don't have a nickname; they just use "William."

entangledbank

Senior Member

London English - South-East England Someone has a given name, such as William or Thomas or Elizabeth: a name given at birth. Then they might be called nicknames, by their parents or by their friends. There are some 'standard' nicknames: William is often called Bill. But you have to know someone is called Bill (among friends), just as you have to know what their name is - William, not Thomas. It is annoying to someone called William among their friends, if you just assume you can call them Bill: it is too friendly, too quickly. Bill Clinton has a friendly, informal personality, so he is happy to be Bill to everyone, not just personal friends. But his bank statement and electricity bill will still say William. E

Egmont

Senior Member

Massachusetts, U.S. English - U.S.

asaisaio said: ... which means that a person will have two names if he was named as "William". Click to expand...

It does not mean that. The person has one name. It is William. Nicknames are common with English. (I don't think they are with Chinese names, so this may not be a natural concept to you.) Some English given names are very long, such as Bartholomew (for men) or Alexandra (for women). Other people generally call people with long names by a shorter name, or "nickname." Sometimes the nickname is derived from the full given name in an obvious way, such as Bart for Bartholomew. Sometimes the connection is less direct, as in Bill for William or Ted for Edward. And some nicknames are not related to a person's nickname at all: I know a man named Stanley whose nickname is Duke, and another named William whose nickname is Mouse. Nicknames are not only used for long names. Many people with shorter names also have nicknames. There may be many nicknames for one given name. As posted above, common nicknames for William include Bill and Will. Men named Richard may prefer one of the common nicknames of Rick, Rich, or Dick; their full name, Richard; or something else. The only way to find out is to ask. Until you know, it is safest to use a person's name, not a nickname. P

pob14

Senior Member

Central Illinois American English

Egmont said: The only way to find out is to ask. Until you know, it is safest to use a person's name, not a nickname. Click to expand...

Absolutely. My father's name, as it happens, was William. He preferred to be called Bill. God help you if you called him Willie. You must log in or register to reply here. Share: Bluesky LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Share Link

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