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

Maybe as a nickname (even then, definitely thought of generally as a boys name) but definitely not on the birth certificate.

I’m an older mother. My seven year old has a name so unusual it didn’t appear as a number on the statistics for his year of birth. He was born in London, and my NCT group produced babies with names that would have caused enormous controversy on Mn.

I don’t think Teddy is at all ‘out there’, I think it’s twee.

Greys anatomy name of a female surgeon Teddy :)

People telling you that your child may be anxious. Won’t get a good job etc, come on.
In 20 years time when this child starts work, do you think offices are going to be full of Linda, Janets and Johns? What about Hunter, Arlo, Luna, Aria, Wren? Are they all going to be standing anxiously in the corner of the job centre? Times have changed.

If the child getting bullied at School is called Teddy, then what’s the bully called?

All I hope is that as little Teddy grows older, she has enough support from her parents and siblings to become a confident and resilient young woman

The sad thing is though, that you may not be enough. Nuture, not nature you are relying on. Nature at school is nasty, because little people have not learnt how to control themselves and your daughter will become the scapegoat for the many.

What if your beautiful Teddy grows up to be an anxious child? You cannot fight nature, you are already putting up a fight against it and for what? For your pleasure, for your right to name your child what you wish. Have you thought out the problems if her name does not suit her personality.

I think Theodora is an absolutely beautiful name. Put that on her birth certificate and give HER the option of being able to use it if she so wishes. Her name has to live with her all her life.

I think as a nick name, short for Theodora etc then it's fine. Quite sweet actually and she'd have options then when she's older. I certainly don't think it's awful, but as her actual, official, on the birth certificate name? No, I wouldn't do that.

All that said, I understand where you're coming from a little bit. I really wanted to call my daughter Wednesday, it would of matched beautifully with the middle name we chose for her (which she did end up with). Some days I wish I had stuck to my guns because she is such a Wednesday, it really does suit her. But then I think that she's already got a spooky mum so giving her a 'spooky' name too may well have been a step too far.

I like it for a boy, can shorten to Ted, which I like even more !

What about Edie / Edith ? Very trendy now.

I don't flinch at any baby names really( and I'm over 35) as each to their own, but I do think there are girls and boys names, and proper names and cute baby nicknames.

I always wonder how many of the 'omg they'll never succeed with a name like that!' crowd have actually ever been in high-powered environments rather than just seeing them on TV? I know a Teddy who went to Oxford and is now a barrister, so it doesn't seem that the inevitable rejection from polite society happened to him...

Edwina
Theodoria
Theodosia
Tedra

Oh hun if you HAVE TO use it I'd have as a nick name or a middle name (so she doesn't have to tell people it).

I think Teddy is out there for a boy but you just couldn't name a girl it.

I agree with @Eleanor90 on the bottom of P6

Aside from that, it is just an awful name.
Who wants to be called after a soft toy ?

I spent years choosing names for the children I hoped to have. The day before my daughter was born I told my sister and she screamed with laughter. Full of hormones and somewhat delirious I switched to the name DH had chosen, forgetting the careful research I had done. Once DD was born and named, I got quite a lot of people laughing in my face, and others behind my back. I remember who laughed and think less of them.

I love Teddy. It does feel like a nickname. Edith, Aideen, or Ursula could all have Teddy as a nickname.

We live in an urban, diverse area. The schools are large and populated with children from many different backgrounds and cultures. The thought of a child being bullied solely on their name has never been a major concern

Then you are being pretty naive - they may not be bullied for being called Samayah or Suresh, but having a name that reads as either super-posh (like Santa Sebag-Montefiore), or like a coddled baby name may well get them bullied.

Your mum is not being unreasonable.

I love Teddy for a girl!

It’s amazing how many people on here think that the only respectful job for a woman to have is a judge or doctor, and that’s the only way in which a woman would ever be taken seriously. I also find it interesting that we live in a multicultural society, with many companies in the UK employing people from all over the world, yet some women would judge someone with the name Teddy. How do these people cope with names they’ve never heard of before?! What are YOUR doctors called? Doubt they’re all called Olivia and Harry. Some people might as well be living under a rock.

Listen to your Mum!

Teddy is fine as a nickname but give her options of a ‘sensible’ name and a cutesy name.

On its own it might be seen as weird by others, but if u did Theodora u could do Teddy as a nickname, then they could choose to use Dora if they wanted to later in life
Most importantly follow ur heart, it’s ur baby after all

I have an idea that Araminta is a name someone made up for a play. As is Wendy.

Roosevelt was more often called Teedie, but I wouldn't recommend that either.

I love it and my own DM suggested it and even started calling my unborn child it for a while but DH said no way. I don't think it's the same as calling a girl John or similar as it's a cute name. How about Theodora, nn Teddy?

Araminta is a proper name.

Teddy is a plush animal.

I know someone called Minty (short for Araminta I think ) in a v sensible job and no one turns a hair, Teddy is very sweet.

I like it though

Oops
Already been said

Isn't Robbie Williams daughter called Teddy - short for Theodora ?