Does Teddy need a 'grown up' name?

Ds2 has a cute nickname and uses it every day. His passport is the full version as his the dr and hospital but it doesn’t affect his identity at all. He’s 8 people usually ask him what he’s prefer to be called. He is the Teddy equivalent every day in school, the dr and hospital call him ‘Teddy’ to his face.
We have been asked what name we prefer on certificates and report cards and he has asked them to put ‘Edward’ without input from me.
He’s actually pretty secure in who he is prefers ‘Teddy’ will tell people he prefers ‘Teddy’ but likes ‘Edward’ on more official stuff.
One thing I would say though is always make sure he knows his name is Edward if you do put that on the bc because my dad has horrible memories of being called Edward by a teacher and arguing his name was Teddy then being dismissed by my gran when he asked her be a he’d always been called Teddy at home. I always made sure my ‘Teddy’ knew what his name was so he never had any upsetting confusion.

It's not a rule, it depends on how you're brought up.

In my family, we all have 'Proper' names, a middle name and our father's surname - none of this, 'yoonique' naming and double barreled to include both. We're just very traditional like that.

The op asked for opinions and she's getting them. She can put Teddy on the form if she likes, but don't be surprised by the judgments later in life.

We have a Theodore - he was a teddy when younger and as he's got older (he's now 9) he goes by Theo or Ted on occasion. I think giving them an option to change is a good idea.

why? What is this rule, who put it in place?

It does need a real name to have on the birth certificate.

Teddy isn't a real name, it's more of a nickname to show familiarity or friendliness.

Edward would be more appropriate for a birth certificate

Teddy is very popular, there’s 2 at my children’s school. I’ve got an Archie which isn’t shortened although if he’s being naughty he does get called Archibald even that’s not his ‘proper’ name

I find this all quite odd, in a way - the idea that some names aren't proper and need to have a different version in reserve just in case.

I wonder if everyone who's ever named their child Amy, for instance, has though 'but that might not be grown up enough for her so I'd better put Amelia on the birth certificate just in case she wants to be a high court judge'. And whether all the Amys think, 'God I wish Mum and Dad has put Amelia on my birth certificate, Amy's so babyish, I'll never get to be a high court judge'.

I work with an Edmund...he uses his middle name.

My cousin Teddy decided he wanted to be called Edward at the age of 10.

I absolutely hated the 'full name telling off stern voice' element to my name so legally ditched it as soon as I was old enough.

I've only ever used the 'nickname' version of my name and to be honest my full name is just a burden. Name him his name!! Register him as Teddy if that's what he'll always be called because that's his name!

Teddy is a lovely name but I understand what you mean.
I have an Ollie, but on his birth certificate he's Oliver.
I wanted everyone to call him Ollie but the strong headed, annoying "I'm calling him by his birth certificate" call him Oliver.
I know a Ted, and call him Teddy for a nickname.
Either way, really cute name 💙

My daughter has a cute name with a serious option on her birth certificate. You don't know what they're going to turn out like as an adult and the problem with a "fun" name is you only have one option even if it's not you, Teddy is lovely but I think he'll be glad of choices. I prefer them to have an everyday name and a 'barrister' option if the other name is too fun.

Why on earth would an employer not give a job to someone named Teddy?! Why do people have to try and scare others into thinking that names like this would be seen as unusual in a workplace? I’ve worked in the City for a long time. Companies are global, you speak to people from around the world, not everyone is called Oliver or Henry.

Do kids still call a teddy bear a Teddy nowadays?

Yes, they do.

Yes.

I have a Teddy, he's a Theodore. Bit different though as we never meant for him to be Teddy, we had thought he'd be known as Theo... he just ended up getting called Teddy as he was so cute and cuddly.

He likes his name at the moment (he's 10) but I am glad he has the options of Theo or Theodore or Ted for when he's older.

Before I would have said Edward, but I have seen the difficulties this can cause to peoples identity when they continually have to battle to say ‘Teddy’ isn’t a nickname, it’s their name, because officially it’s not, but to them it IS.

If he’s officially Edward it’ll be everywhere important and Teddy will become his nickname. Is that what you want? Or do you actually want him to ‘be’ Teddy?

If you officially name him Teddy he can be Ted as an adult if he wants to be. By the time this generation grow up no one will bat an eyelid at Teddy or Ted being his ‘proper’ name.

We went for Edward - gives him a good range of nicknames for the future. And is a good 'stern voice' name too!

Definitely needs a ‘proper’ name. Edward and Theodore are both nice.

What else would they call them Winter?

Do kids still call a teddy bear a 🧸 Teddy nowadays?

Someone said by the time all today’s little Alfie/ Charlie / Lizzies are adults, the names won’t seem babyish any more as the new trend is for shortening rather than formal names. But even if that’s true, I think Teddy is an exception. It’s the same word as for a child’s stuffed toy, so it is inherently babyish. I too would choose a more formal name in this context.

The longer name gives him options when he’s older. We did the same with my son, he has a nickname and a longer ‘proper’ name that gives him flexibility.
Why wouldn’t you support broadening your child’s choices rather than narrowing them?
And Congrats on Teddy!

You could officially name your child almost any name, Thomas, Theodore, Edmund, Thaddeus, Edward, Terence, Tobias, etc etc

and still call him Teddy as a baby/toddler.