Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Theodore or Cooper?

39 replies

Workingmama1 · 17/03/2021 16:35

Torn between two names for our baby boy.
Theodore Alfred
or
Cooper Alfred

I love Theodore (we'd probably use Theo day to day) but it's such a popular name! I've got an unusual name and love the fact that I never get mixed up with anyone else and I never have to be known by my surname like some of my friends with more common names. Hence Cooper being thrown in the mix, but my husband isn't keen. Alfred is 100% his middle name after both our granddads.

Any preferences?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
LadyWithLapdog · 18/03/2021 00:37

Theodore

Firebird83 · 17/03/2021 23:57

I don’t like Theodore, but Cooper is awful.

Starsandglitter · 17/03/2021 22:22

Theo is a lovely name but it is so so popular. There seem to be so many Theo’s (and Leo’s!) around here. So I think if that’s an issue, it’s probably not the best choice for you. I’ve met a baby Cooper, I like it.

Arrierttyclock · 17/03/2021 21:54

I much prefer Cooper over Theodore

Original poster
Workingmama1 · 17/03/2021 21:53

Interesting seems to be quite a consensus! Initials if we went for Theodore would be TA?D. There will be a second middle name which will reflect my heritage and is likely to start with a N or K.
Will definitely use the full Theodore as I dislike using nicknames as given names.

OP posts:
AlwaysLatte · 17/03/2021 21:28

I hate these surname type first names. Theodore is nice though!

IAcceptCookies · 17/03/2021 21:26

*bad, even

IAcceptCookies · 17/03/2021 21:25

Agree with most PP:

Theodore good; Cooper ba

4amWitchingHour · 17/03/2021 20:27

I have an unusual name and hated always having to spell it or have people ask me to repeat it. Your child may feel the same about an unusual name. Just because you liked it doesn't mean they will. Go with Theo, it's popular for a reason. Cooper is not good.

PlanetPuddle · 17/03/2021 20:26

Theodore Alfred

Alfred Cooper would work OK but that's not what you asked

Serin · 17/03/2021 20:24

Theodore.
I think Cooper will date quickly.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 17/03/2021 19:55

Alfred is a lovely name and I like the family link. While I weirdly like popular Theo (I say weirdly because I don't usually like trendy names but Theo has a really nice sound), I'm actually not keen on the full Theodore - it's kinda cuddly/cute sounding?

Still I much prefer putting traditional Theodore on the BC to Cooper - Cooper sounds a bit hipster/try hard to me and I dislike the shortening Coop, sorry.

DavidsSchitt · 17/03/2021 19:50

TA? What's the issue there?

I reckon being called Ted Fred is pretty cool 😎

Oodilallygolly · 17/03/2021 19:24

@Allgirlskidsanddogs
What’s TAC?

Allgirlskidsanddogs · 17/03/2021 19:20

Tibtab , nothing’s wrong with TA but it depends what comes after it TA? I wouldn’t want to be TAT or TAC for example.

stuckinarutatwork · 17/03/2021 19:20

Cooper is a dog name. Sorry.

Whatsyourflava · 17/03/2021 19:18

I like both

How about Chester, Caleb, Tristan, Hugo, Otto or Laurence

Oodilallygolly · 17/03/2021 19:15

Cooper is awful

Tibtab · 17/03/2021 19:14

@Allgirlskidsanddogs

Much prefer Theodore. But you also need to consider his initials, T A ?
Trying to work out what’s wrong with the initials TA 😂
Allgirlskidsanddogs · 17/03/2021 19:10

Much prefer Theodore. But you also need to consider his initials, T A ?

thebestnamehere · 17/03/2021 19:10

@Workingmama1

Torn between two names for our baby boy. Theodore Alfred or Cooper Alfred

I love Theodore (we'd probably use Theo day to day) but it's such a popular name! I've got an unusual name and love the fact that I never get mixed up with anyone else and I never have to be known by my surname like some of my friends with more common names. Hence Cooper being thrown in the mix, but my husband isn't keen. Alfred is 100% his middle name after both our granddads.

Any preferences?

My friend's son is Téodore Pronounced Tee a dor

Really lovely name

user1493494961 · 17/03/2021 19:09

Theo is lovely. Cooper is awful as a first name, a Cooper makes barrels.

Biscuitsneeded · 17/03/2021 19:03

Theodore is a name. Cooper isn't, it's a job.

DramaAlpaca · 17/03/2021 18:57

I don't like Theodore but it's much better than Cooper.

KirstenBlest · 17/03/2021 18:46

I don't like Theodore at all but Cooper is only suitable as a surname.