Don't Call Me Bill

I do not like being called Bill so don't call me Bill. My name is William and the short form is Will. Why do people persist in wanting to call me Bill when my various nametags clearly read “Will Burnham”? This is something that has always bugged me and sometimes it even pisses me off, especially when I have corrected someone before and they persist. There is another William in the department where I work and he goes by Bill. I respect that. However, he thinks I should also go by Bill and said to me that all of the Williams he knows are called Bill. I said that is far too many Bills and I am unique. He gave me that Mister Spock look.

I further explained that the name William, with the last four letters removed is Will. There is no Billiam. Again the Spock look. I looked into the origins of the name William - not an exhaustive search mind you - and its shortened forms and Bill comes from a very old Irish pronunciation of Will that is said to have sounded like Bill. It must have been the heavy Irish Brogue. Anyway, my being called Bill is a slightly rare occurrence that happens a few times a year for as long as I can remember. The worst time was when I attended Westminster Senior High School in Westminster, MD. Teachers, counselors, and fellow students all persisted in calling me Bill. I even gave into it, briefly, but seeing all of the other Bills in their John Deere, Southern States and Dekalb (sometimes referred to as the “I love corn” hat) ball caps made me reverse that decision. In Carroll County this was clearly a redneck name used by the drivers of Fords cars and trucks in various shades of primer gray. I would not be associated with any of it. I stood fast on Will as the only acceptable short form of William for me. It took a while, but it finally stuck. Like I said, it still happens from time to time, but I am quick to put an end to it. It's just disrespectful to call someone a name that do not go by.