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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can I have your honest opinions

67 replies

Helpmechoose321 · 02/01/2020 10:48

Have NC as including surname so could be outing.

We are having a boy in a few months and our favourite name is Theodore, to be shortened to Teddy. The problem is our surname. It’s Baird. So when you say Teddy Baird out loud, it sounds a bit like teddy bear.

So with that in mind should we steer clear of the name? We already have a DD who uses a shortened version of her name and the idea was that as she grew she could choose to continue to use the short version or change to the long, and the same with Theodore/Teddy - he could be known as Theo when he got a bit older.

Please be as honest as you like! Would also appreciate suggestions of other names that go with our surname.

Other names we like are

Rory
Flynn
Louie

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Mumma4262 · 02/01/2020 15:34

I actually know somebody with the surname Baird and a son called Teddy.

Not to sound mean but I wondered what they were thinking.

redwoodmazza · 02/01/2020 14:12

Definitely NOT Teddy Baird!!!

20viona · 02/01/2020 13:39

Teddy Baird is a no go for me.

Ellecrawford · 02/01/2020 13:35

I think it's fine. I understand where your coming from but if your worried about the teasing don't schools use full title names on registers etc.? So in school he could just go by Theodore then teddy could be a family nickname 😄 hope this helps x

Original poster
Helpmechoose321 · 02/01/2020 12:52

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. Certainly given us something to think about. Looks like the consensus is a definite no on Teddy. Bloody surname 😡

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 02/01/2020 12:31

I’d just go with Theo. As Theodore could easily become Teddy. Whereas Theo will only be Theo.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 02/01/2020 12:16

Dominic Baird sound fab! Could be Dom or Nicky.

FluffyEggsontoast · 02/01/2020 12:16

@Helpmechoose321 glad you like a few from the list. I thought we might have similar ish taste as I also love Teddy and many of the other names you’ve suggested x

TildaTurnip · 02/01/2020 12:16

I don’t think it would work to call him one thing at home then another at school. Especially when little and then going to school with a new name after years of being Teddy at home.

Christopher/Kit goes really well with your surname. Also like Wilfred/Wilf.

rottiemum88 · 02/01/2020 12:14

Don't really get this whole thing of choosing a name for your child and then also dictating what nickname/shortened form they should use. Surely just pick a name you like for its own sake and let your child work out their own nickname(s) as they grow up 🤷🏼‍♀️

AgeLikeWine · 02/01/2020 12:14

Please don’t call the poor kid Teddy Baird, it would be really unfair. He would definitely be teased at school, and possibly worse.

What’s wrong with keeping Theodore, but shortening it to Theo?

Astronica · 02/01/2020 12:12

Atticus or Christopher with nn Kit
Alexander, Alec/Lex
Magnus or Fergus/Gus
Douglas
Henry/Hal
I do really like Theodore/Theo too and that works fine with surname.

Original poster
Helpmechoose321 · 02/01/2020 12:11

Exactly our problem @CoffeeRunner!

OP posts:
CoffeeRunner · 02/01/2020 12:09

I definitely think you should use Theo from birth & maybe just call him Teddy at home if you want to.

I hadn’t realised how many names don’t go with Baird until I started to say them!

Original poster
Helpmechoose321 · 02/01/2020 12:09

I like quite a few on that list Fluffy!

@babycatcher411 that’s my thinking now too.

OP posts:
Yellow1c · 02/01/2020 12:04

Don't use Teddy Baird! Theo is lovely.

babycatcher411 · 02/01/2020 12:02

Could you go with Theodore, but just use Teddy at home.

My brother has an unusual name, though not weird, and for some reason developed the nick name MooMar, or Moo. We used it regularly (and very occasionally do now, even at 17) at home, but it was never used anywhere else.

FluffyEggsontoast · 02/01/2020 11:57

Suggestions with good nicknames:

Wilf(red)
Barnaby
Nathan/Nathaniel - Nate
Rafferty / Raffy
Sidney /Sid

Other ideas:

Eli
Ellis
Miles / Milo
Seth
Cole
Otis
Eric
Casper
Rudy/Rudi
Dexter
Blake
Angus
Dominic
Idris
Percy
Caleb

FluffyEggsontoast · 02/01/2020 11:55

Kit is GORGEOUS @Helpmechoose321

I like carter too. Or Parker

GreaterSpottedFemale · 02/01/2020 11:44

Don't use Teddy. He will most definitely be teased his entire life, from school right into work.

Theo is nice. Just use that. No need to turn it into a Teddy.

Original poster
Helpmechoose321 · 02/01/2020 11:44

@FluffyEggsontoast don’t like the name Edward at all. And we are Scottish so Ned has it’s own problems up here!

@NoSauce I do like the name Alexander.

A few others we have on our “like” list are

Kit
Carter

OP posts:
NoSauce · 02/01/2020 11:39

I would use a longer name with Baird personally.

Alexander
Sebastian
Laurence
Gabriel

FluffyEggsontoast · 02/01/2020 11:34

Edward is also an option if you like nickname Teddy

Or just Ted?

How about the name “Ned”? I love that name

Original poster
Helpmechoose321 · 02/01/2020 11:18

Yes possibly @FeigningHorror , as explained we were would have chosen that as the long version so that when he grew up (even just to primary school age), we could use those names!

OP posts:
CountFosco · 02/01/2020 11:18

Teddy Baird is nothing like Mike Hunt Hmm. One is a cute pun that he may get teased about a bit but it's likely to be good natured. Mike Hunt sounds like a swearword.