Teddy as a standalone?

all you want as a new mum or mum to be is a warm response

If you just want a warm response, put your name choice on your Facebook page or group. The whole point of the Names forum is to get honest opinions about a name. It can feel a bit harsh, but the kid themselves is the one who has to live with the name.

I know people are saying "There'll be lots of men called Teddy in his generation!" but bear in mind that the "cutesy-poo-names" fashion (Alfie, Albie, Teddy etc.) is almost exclusively a British trend, and outside a UK context these names sound odd and a lot of Americans in particular tend to assume that any name ending "ie" or "y" is likely to be a woman's name. If your son travels outside the UK for work or ends up living somewhere else, he's going to feel a bit of a prat with a name like "Teddy," honestly. He could go by "Ted" I suppose, but why not give a name with more options?

Imagine a hulking teenager who would probably cringe at being called Teddy.

Personally I prefer a full name on BC as teddy is a bit cutesy for a man. I was set one Edward/teddy but there’s been loads born named that since I got pregnant that it’s put me off

Teddy is cute for a toddler but what about a Middle Aged bloke? He will inevitably become Ted or another nn. Personally I would use it as a nn or an affectionate pet name. We have an Edward in the family who as he has grown up has gone through a range of nn in different groups etc (Ed, Eddie, Ted, Edders) but now he is a bit older teddy is the one nn he will not have!

I know a 6 year old Teddy. When he is older I expect he will just be Ted.

How about Ted on the BC, really similar to Teddy but a bit easier to take seriously. Fwiw I do like the name Teddy, but would never give my child a BC name that might embarrass them at a job interview or if they ended up in a really serious career. Imagine being a senior manager in a company, a headteacher, a politician, a lawyer etc. etc. and having to introduce yourself as Teddy.

I personally would put Edward on the bc. It gives him options in the future if he feels Teddy is too babyish.

Not for a boy. My gardener has a very pleasant spaniel named Teddy. Suits him.

@Pineapple30 my thoughts exactly! I can’t believe this site would be majority new mums yet the comments you read are like you say so judgmental and all you want as a new mum or mum to be is a warm response

Love Teddy and would absolutely use it on its own as a boys name (and may do if our little bean is a boy!)

So many judgemental comments on this thread 😂 if you like Teddy use Teddy, I did.

I think Teddy on the birth certificate would be fine especially if that's the name you're going to use day to day
Mumsnet like full names on BC but in reality names like Tommy are top 100 so are completely acceptable these days and mainstream

I like Teddy as a stand-alone name. I hate this having to have a different name that's never used for the birth certificate. It could be shortened to Ted as an adult anyway. It's just getting a bit popular for me now.

Yes - but only if he growls when you squeeze him.

Her middle name is Elizabeth btw, she goes by Liz, but so many options with that.
Obviously everyone who has known her forever call her by her first name, and she's fine with that, but introduces herself as Liz now.
She's actually called Niamh!

If DD2 had been a boy, she was going to be Theodore with the NN Teddy. I wouldn’t have Teddy on the BC though. I would put Ted if you don’t like Edward or Theodore or Tedbert.

My Dd now uses a shortened version of her middle name which I'd have never chosen for her, but its her name and I'm so glad I gave her plenty of choice.

Teddy is lovely for a baby, but at secondary school, on their cv??? Edward is a great formal name, with Teddy as what you call him

As much as people say pick a name you like and only put Teddy on the bc, you do need to give some thought to when he is older and may not like being called Teddy. He can only really go to Ted from there. So either put Ted on the certificate, or a longer version Edward or Theodore. Or have a 2nd option via the middle name, pick a name you really like and so put Teddy on and when he gets older could 'switch' to using the middle name. Or vice versa so other name 1st and Teddy as a middle name and you all call him Teddy but on official stuff he is 'Samuel' (as a guess). Trust me there is nothing worse growing than a name that draws attention when you want to be a wall flower. And he will forever have people asking, 'no what is your real name, on your certificate' and having comments on it if you just call him Teddy

My brother is Edward on his birth certificate but has always been Teddy. He's nearly 17 now and is still known as Teddy but he could go with a different nickname later on, if he preferred.

Teddy is cute for a baby but not so great for a middle aged man in a job interview

If the name of the applicant swayed you so much that you would not recruit them then you ought not to be hiring anyone.

I think Teddy is a really sweet name, I love it, but you must take into account, it's not your name.
Put something longer on the birth cert and give him the choice, after all, you've got nothing to lose.

Give him a cute nickname if you like. But he needs a proper name on his birth certificate.

Snap, IckleBear.😆