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William is my son's name. When I was mulling over what names I would give his younger sister if he were to ever have one, Lillian occurred to me. Added to the fact that I thought it a pretty name, was that it was my great-grandmother's name and the name of a great aunt who died young. But it occurred to me, as it did to you, that William and Lillian are just too similar to each other when spelled out. So I reluctantly gave up the idea of ever using Lillian; I do think they're too alike. As it turned out, no younger sister ever came into being (nor, for that matter, did a younger brother.)

I don't pronounce them the same so they don't rhyme for me so I don't find that they are too similar ("WILL-yem" and "LIL-lee-an"). They just look very similar. I know a sibset that's Lillian and Julian and it helps me to remember them as being siblings. And, no, I have never messed up and called them the wrong name. Then again I'm used to having to deal with it as I've grown up with two family immediate family members having the same one syllable name bar the vowel (eg: Tim and Tam) in my everyday life. One of them likes it and the other doesn't. :)

I think William and Lillian are both fabulous names, but I have to agree that they seem a bit too much together.

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I'd personally keep Lillian and change William to something else, since you have other options.

I love Lillian so defnitly keep that!
Ive always had a soft spot for William but i agree that they are too similar.
If you arent that keen on having a nn that is prodominantly used for William, ie naming him William but calling him Will, Willie, Liam etc, then maybe think about just caling him Liam. Its a shortened version of William but it is not too close to Lillian despite the two 'L's.
Others may disagree, including you, but IMO Liam and Lillian go well together!

I like Lillian a lot more than William. I'd definately opt to find a new boys name instead.

I love Lillian, but find William overused and dull. I definitely agree Will & Lill would not be good for sibs, so I say keep Lillian and ditch William. :)

You should keep Lillian since you have other boy names that you like.

William and Lillian are definitely too similar, even the nns (Will and Lily). Since you have other boy names you like, I'd keep Lillian and use either Miles or Lucas.

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Yup they are tooooo close.

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I like William but I'm not too keen on Lillian. But if you have trouble choosing girls names then stick with Lillian and choose another boys name.