I like
William better for these reasons:
1. I think
Liam sounds ridiculous / I think
Will sounds very handsome
2. I think
Liam is a completely contrived nickname /
Will is a very natural nickname
3.
Liam is very new and will be dated later /
Will is timeless
4.
Liam doesn't have etymological dignity. This means:
William comes from
Wilhelm, which comes from the elements
Wil + Helm.
Will means battle and Helm means Helmet/Protection. The element "Helm" is where we get our word Helmet from. Once you transfer
Wilhelm to English and it becomes
William, there is no way you could get Helmet out of the second element. Liamet? Doubts.
Wil Will still means Battle and is still related to
Wilhelm;
Liam's too far removed.
I straight don't see the appeal of
Liam at all. I don't see how people can get away using it as a nickname. Do people in other parts of the country say will-LEE-am or something? I have never heard it any way other than
William. I mean the syllable emphasized in
Liam doesn't even exist in
William's original etymology. It baffles me. It's totally artificial. And as a name on its own it is BAFFLING! Also it is faux-Irish, which I find obnoxious.