Bill (was: Cauldrons and Bill Weasley)

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 50893


I see Richard got there first, but my perspective is slightly different!

Bboy-mn:
>How common is it for someone to be called 'Bill' in the UK? In the US,
>Bill is frequently short for William. But I notice that Prince William
>is called Will, while Prince Henry is called Harry.
>
>So again, I'm wondering how common the nickname 'Bill' is in the UK.
>If it is somewhat common that would lead us to think that Bill's name
>is Williamm. If it is very uncommon then we could conclude that Bill
>had an unusual name that lent itself well to the nickname Bill.


It's old-fashioned - as are Ron(ald), Percy and Ginny, but a perfectly 
standard short form amongst the older generation.

FWIW, and IMHO only, of course, William and Harry are names that have sprung 
back into popularity following (or at least around the same time as) the 
births of the princes. Henry is not very amongst young people, except 
possibly in the upper classes. There is a middle class vogue for very 
traditional boys names at present (my children's school is full of Williams, 
Jacks, Harrys, Edwards, Georges) and also OT names - Bens, Sams, etc. Harry 
*wasn't* a popular boy's name in 1980, as far as I know. It *is* a 
traditional shortening of Henry, however ("Cry 'God for Harry! England and St 
George' ")

And I've come across at least three Wills amongst my childrens' 
contemporaries. 

~Eloise