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Original poster

Does Teddy need a 'grown up' name?

109 replies

MercuryRising · 28/11/2018 03:27

Help! We had a little boy 3 weeks ago who we have called Teddy. We have yet to register his birth, in part because we cannot decide if on his birth certificate we should register him as Teddy or Edward. I don't think he will ever be referred to as Edward but members of my family keep telling me that Teddy is more of a nickname so it would be good for him to have the full name of Edward registered in case he wants to use it later in life. Im really unsure and feel that I might regret either choice. What do you think wise ladies?

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BatF1nk · 28/11/2018 09:35

@MercuryRising honestly don't be swayed by a load of random people on the internet! If you love the name then use the bloody name! Have the courage in your own convictions here.

By all means if you're having a wobble and actually love Edward as a name then crack on. But if you don't love Edward then why on earth call your child it?

He will NOT hate his name. It's honestly pretty cool.

BatF1nk · 28/11/2018 09:32

Oh and when I had my Teddy 12 years ago it wasn't popular at all.

BatF1nk · 28/11/2018 09:31

I have a 12 year old Teddy. Not Edward, not Theodore or anything else. Teddy on the birth certificate

He suits his name perfectly. He loves his name and prefers Teddy to Ted although he uses both. Never been teased. Never been called Teddy Bear (apart from by me Grin) . He obviously is the cutest thing ever to me naturally, but he's not a cutesy boy at all and it just suits him

Remember - people 'become' their names so if you love the name teddy then call him teddy. It's a different name to Edward which is nowhere near as nice - in my opinion

HoppingPavlova · 28/11/2018 09:28

I know someone called Mandy who resents not having the Amanda option.

Same. The person I knew informally changed their name to Manda when they gre up as they considered Mandy to be a little girls name. So introduced themselves as such, was known as this in the workplace etc.

I think having a formal version gives a person options. So if they grow up and still love Mandy for instance they can crack on using it, otherwise they can choose the option they feel is a better fit at that point.

RedRoseReb · 28/11/2018 09:09

To a couple of prior posters: Ted is a traditional nickname for an Edward.

Like Dick for Richard . Peg for Margaret requires more imagination but really Ted for Ed is not that much of a stretch!

Daisymay2 · 28/11/2018 09:00

Sensible choice!
I know someone called Mandy who resents not having the Amanda option. She is in her 50s.
I also know an Edward currently known as Ed but was Edward at nursery, Eddie at school but called Ted or Tedda at home.

Winterwonderland12 · 28/11/2018 08:55

Wouldn't Ed or Eddie be the natural shortening for Edward?

BuffaloCauliflower · 28/11/2018 08:52

Good choice. Much better to have a whole name option.

Do be aware that Theodore/Teddy/Ted/Theo are all stupidly popular at the moment, I know millions of them. I think it will be this generation’s Matthew. So at least with Edward he’ll have the option of more classic name that’s not so overused

Original poster
MercuryRising · 28/11/2018 08:49

Thank you so much for all of your replies. We will definitely go with Edward. I can't remember who asked but Edward shortens to Ed,Eddie, Ted, Teddy and Ned so lots of options. I hope he will stay Teddy or Ted but ultimately it will be his choice and at least he will have lots of choices.

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Charley50 · 28/11/2018 07:55

Theodore is a lovely name. I really don't think Teddy is a good name for an adult. (Call me old fashioned lol) .. I suppose they could call themselves Ted or Ed or Eddie.
But a full name like Theodore gives them another option.

DirtyCurtains1 · 28/11/2018 07:51

I agree with Theodore.
Know a beautiful baby boy with the shortened name Theo but his mums call him Teddy Smile

SnowBambino · 28/11/2018 07:43

Teddy is a popular name here, so I’d definitely choose a longer name to register so that there will be more differentiation between then all when they are older. In one class I go to, there are three Teddys, but they are Edward or Theodore.

CherryPavlova · 28/11/2018 07:40

I think as a teenager he might drop the Teddy. I’d give him options with Edward, Edmund or Theodore. Teddy is cute for a toddler but less cute for a shy sixteen year old. As an adult p, there are plenty of examples of Teds around.

Polkasq · 28/11/2018 07:39

Yes to a full name such as Edwin or Theodore.

E20mom · 28/11/2018 07:38

I'd go for Ted then

Lindy2 · 28/11/2018 07:37

Edward on the certificate. Called Teddy in day to day life.
Job done.

YouCouldBeMe · 28/11/2018 07:34

Teddy is a lovely nickname but I think it needs a full name on the BC incase he does not like it when he is older.

Edward is nice but I love Theodore if you haven't thought of that?

ABCFamily · 28/11/2018 07:28

Going against the grain here, but I think by the time this year's babies are adults, 'nicknamey' names as full names will be pretty commonplace. Look at the top 50 for 2017. Charlie, Alfie, Archie, Freddie, and Teddy all make an appearance, so won't feel 'babyish' to their generation.

I'd say choose whichever name you like most. There's nothing to stop him going by either name when he gets older anyway.

PinkAvocado · 28/11/2018 07:25

I think Edward is a great name and then Teddy has got less cute options when older. An Edward I know used Ted more by the time he was 6/7

Winterwonderland12 · 28/11/2018 07:23

How does Edward shorten to Teddy?Confused

All the Edwards I know sometimes shorten to Ed ir Eddie.

HoppingPavlova · 28/11/2018 05:38

Edward.

Bluerussian · 28/11/2018 05:14

Edward.

HappyPunky · 28/11/2018 05:05

I love Theodore, he can be Teddy when little then grow into Ted.

Chottie · 28/11/2018 05:00

Definitely Edward or Edmund. Then he could be called Ed, Eddy, Ted, Teddy or Ned or even Edward :)

NameChangeToAvoidBeingFound · 28/11/2018 04:57

Could go with Arthur which means bear, so he'd be your Teddy bear if you didn't want to go the obvious route. Teddy does need a 'grown up' name tbh. Cutesy won't please him when he's an angsty teen.

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