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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Edward, Laurence, or Hugo?

34 replies

DoloresLandingham · 08/02/2018 12:51

Edward would possibly be shortened to Teddy during babyhood (I know that this is widely disliked on MN).
Laurence with a u rather than a w. Probably known as Laurie while small.
Hugo wouldn’t be shortened.

Surname is double-barrelled. Sister has a New Testament name in the top 100.

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Original poster
DoloresLandingham · 10/02/2018 09:43

Ted / Teddy is a well-known and long-established nn for Edward so I'm quite comfortable with that. I'm surprised you have never heard of it - Ted Heath? Ted(dy) Kennedy? Ted Hughes? All Edwards.

Teddy bears are named for Theodore Roosevelt but the Teddy - Edward connection is so well established that Winnie the Pooh is sometimes referred to in the books at Edward Bear as a mock-formal full name.

OP posts:
ArnoldBee · 10/02/2018 00:20

My son is called Lawrence which is never shortened. He has a nickname which is completely unrelated to his name. He's the only one in his school :-).

Muddlingalongalone · 10/02/2018 00:11

Love Lawrence (prefer w but still my fave of the 3), went to school with one many moons ago and it was never shortened.
Edward is fab too but much more popular.
Don't like Hugo (sorry)

Smoliver · 10/02/2018 00:06

Edward and Laurence are both lovely. Not the biggest fan of Hugo (but that's just me!)

BlackberryandNettle · 09/02/2018 23:46

All lovely, Teddy is definitely a nickname for Theodore or Edward.
I'd probably go with Laurence or Hugo as have met a few Edwards around. I like the nickname Laurie.

NotAnotherEmma · 09/02/2018 17:46

I thought Teddy was a nickname for Theodore? Hmm

I like Edward but Teddy is a silly nickname with it, nothing wrong with Eddie.

littlepeas · 09/02/2018 10:20

Good list! I actually think you can't go wrong, but Laurence/Laurie probably has the edge for me.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 09/02/2018 10:18

Hugo

LarkDescending · 09/02/2018 09:17

Laurence/Laurie is my favourite.

TatianaLarina · 09/02/2018 09:16

Edward or Laurence for me. I’d go with Edward as it’s one of my favourite male names.

Ed is a much easier cooler nickname than Laurie which sounds a bit girly.

My grandfather was called Laurence also spelt with a u, as with Laurence Olivier.

bluebabydinosaur · 09/02/2018 09:16

Lawrence and Laurie and good too thinking about it. I dont like Hugo at all though. He sounds like a hippo - sorry dont know why.

Original poster
DoloresLandingham · 09/02/2018 08:46

This is simultaneously very helpful and no help at all - you are all as divided as DH and me! I'll have to tot up a running tally of the votes so far.

Keep 'em coming!

OP posts:
bluebabydinosaur · 09/02/2018 08:41

Edward - Teddy is so lovely and Edward is strong and traditional

S0ph1a · 09/02/2018 08:22

Edward or Hugo

Sophronia · 09/02/2018 08:19

Laurence

Original poster
DoloresLandingham · 08/02/2018 18:43

Thank you all. Interesting thoughts. We are in the UK.

I'm aware that Laurence is a French girls' name but as the same spelling has been used as a masculine name in England since the Middle Ages this doesn't bother me. It's interesting that Laurie would be assumed to be female in the USA. If he ever did end up out there I imagine he'd use his full name on documents etc.

Popularity is a consideration, and is a factor against Edward nn Teddy; Edward is no. 26 and by the time you combine with all of the Theodores who also go by Teddy it could be pretty ubiquitous. Hugo is apparently very popular in Europe and the names.darkgreener entry shows a very steady climb. I am slightly concerned that it is about to explode and become the next Noah.

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 08/02/2018 18:29

Edward or Hugo. I don't like Laurence.

IVflytrap · 08/02/2018 18:25

Laurence is my favourite, followed by Edward. I like both the nicknames. Not a fan of Hugo.

I don't think Mumsnet has a problem with Teddy as a nickname, more that there is a trend here for disliking putting a nickname-type- name on the birth certificate instead of a full name. Which isn't what you're doing, OP, so you're fine.

About Laurie as a "girls name": Laurie was never really an established name for girls in the UK like it was in the US, so it shouldn't be a big deal unless OP is in America. I've only ever known one Laurie, and he is male. I thought Laurence is only feminine in France.

Floralnomad · 08/02/2018 17:41

Hugo , Lawrence , Edward in that order and with that spelling .

NapYearStudent · 08/02/2018 17:38

Most Americans would assume Laurie to be a girl.

NapQueen · 08/02/2018 17:11

Lawrence (rather than u spelling) was my top boys name but dh didnt like it.

So Lawrence.

Buxbaum · 08/02/2018 17:10

Laurence is a girls name outside the uk, the female version of Laurent

Only in francophone countries, surely?

pipilangstrumpf · 08/02/2018 16:38

Laurence is a girls name outside the uk, the female version of Laurent. And Laurie is very girly too.

Butterfly1975 · 08/02/2018 16:11

Laurence nn Laurie is great!

I know a little Laurie and think it's a very cool and still a fairly unusual name.

I like all your choices though

ChocolateCrunch · 08/02/2018 15:08

Hugo or Laurence

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