Teddy for a girl, is it really that controversial??

Neither controversial or original.

Fwiw I adore Theodora, annoyed now I'd never considered it for dd's. Teddy is a perfectly ok nickname although I think Theodora would have a tendency to shorten to either Thea or Dora

You can probably expect your child to hate you for ever if you saddle her with an name like Teddy - each to their own indeed but even at best it's a boys name but one that only really works on a baby or toddler

This is the sort of thing massively wealthy celebrities do. Are you one?

(Apple: Gweneth and Chris. Psalm: Kim Kardashian and Kanye. Buddy Bear: Jamie and Jules Oliver)

I love it.

I didn't rtft but I do find it funny how people are outraged about this "not being a proper name" and "giving her options" when on other threads people are loving names such as Albie or Alfie or Archie.

Personally I can't stand nicknames used instead of full names, so I wouldn't use Teddy just as I'd never use Albie or Archie. Just feels unfinished. But aside from that I don't hate it.

I think it's adorable and unique! Love it! 🙌🏽🥰

It makes me think of an Agatha Christie character, maybe the spoiled daughter of a rich American 😀

I don't like it for boys or girls it's an awful name lol

I think it's sweet. Putting it on my list!

May have been mentioned up thread, but Robbie Williams daughter is Theodora nn. Teddy

My neighbour's dog is called Teddy

Seriously, it's not a name for a human.

Well it's not great, it sounds like a daft nickname and there's nowhere you can go with it - Theodora nn Teddy fine, just giving her Teddy and nothing else seems a bit depressing.

BUT - it's your choice, and my answer to your DM saying that she would reject a name choice she hated and 'use the middle name' would be 'This is our child; if you aren't able to respect the parents' choice of names, you won't be seeing the child anyway, so no need to plan what name you'd be using in that scenario.'

You liken it to Charlie, Billie and Bobby as girl's names - all fine as nicknames but again a little hard to use any as a serious name when going into a job interview. Much better for a child to have the option of applying for a job as Charlotte, Roberta etc.

I think some of the replies have been harsh, but as someone who has what I consider to be a bit of a silly, unusual-for-the-sake-of-it sort of name, I would avoid giving any child a nickname as a name without a more classic name to back it up. Theodora nn Teddy is fine, but give her the choice. I feel a bit silly every time I introduce myself and it's a hell of a lifelong burden!

Whoever said “fine for a baby, not so great for a civil servant” obviously hasn’t spent any time in the actual Civil Service! The world has moved on - I work with a Willow, a Sindi and a Bobbie just in my office alone. The only thing we care about is a) are they good at their job and b) do they pay their milk fund money on time? Our recruitment process is also anonymised - presumably to avoid narrow-minded judgements like some of those articulated above.

Once you meet a person then their name just becomes that person to you, and anyone negatively judging the person purely on their name is the problem, not the name. It’s not as if the OP is suggesting she call her baby Caravan or Myra-Adolf.

You need to use a proper first name with the nickname Teddy

Theodora is a nice name. She could then choose if she wanted to be Teddy. What about Hedy?

I love it OP

🙈 one poster said if you’re over 35 you’re out of touch!

Jesus! 38 here and feeling very old now 😂

It's not my style but it's not a bad choice. Stick with it if it's what you love.
Perhaps it's worth considering longer versions like Theodora or even just Thea? Maybe a different T name with a D middle name to make her initials T.D - that could be a cute way to get to Teddy as a nn!

Your DM is being very disrespectful to say she wouldn't call your daughter by her name just because she doesn't like it.

Also don't forget, once baby is born people will grow to love the name as she grows into it. It won't just be a name anymore, it'll be her name.

Best of luck :)

I'm well over 35, and think it's lovely. I agree with other posters, Theodora for BC/long version, and would be happy if my son and his wife told me they'd chosen this name for their Autumn 2020 baby.

I know two girls called Teddy/Teddie. It's lovely. Ignore everyone else, it's your child!

I think it’s cute, but I am the kind of person that would always give a “proper” name on the birth certificate - I’m a bit traditional. If it doesn’t bother you then go for it. I certainly don’t think it is “out there” enough that kids would tease her for it.

I know a small female Teddy (but has a longer name on her birth certificate) and it doesn’t strike me as strange at all, I actually think it’s a sweet name.

Theodora and your nickname for her could be Teddy. That’s cute for a little one!

She could be known as Thea or something like that? i think that is a name that could get you through childhood and as an adult too.

I work in a nursery and have looked after Billie, Bobbie, Teddie, Harrie and Frankie-all girls! Most people won't even blink at a girl called Teddie.