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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ed, Ted or Fred?

39 replies

dahliasandgin · 11/10/2022 15:36

We like Edward and Frederick- struggling to choose between the two.

Of all the nickname options across both names, Ted is my favourite. DH is not so keen though and much prefers Ed (which I do also like). We both like Fred but not as much as Ted/Ed.

Any preferences?

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DuchessOfSausage · 12/10/2022 09:23

Ed

Lilacsunflowers · 12/10/2022 08:36

Edward shortening to Ed.

I'm surprised at the additions of letters to get Ned, Ted... how about Fed, Bed or Led Grin

Ilovelurchers · 12/10/2022 05:08

As PP's have said, you need to pick a name you like the full version of, as you can't predict or control what nickname version (s) end up being used by different people at different stages of your son's life.

With Edward for example there is Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy, Ned..... The list goes on...... Some of these I like more than others, as do you too I imagine, but the most important thing is, your son will have his preferences too........the versatility is an excellent way to facilitate self-expression.......

Original poster
dahliasandgin · 12/10/2022 04:25

Thanks all. Now leaning towards Ed (from Edward).

In answer to a previous question- I can't decide whether I prefer Edward or Frederick as a full name!

OP posts:
GlamGiraffe · 12/10/2022 02:27

Alfred also shortened to Fred and Freddiei have so often been told (as well as alf, red and alfie ). I've got a Freddie.started as a Fred as a joke name and it stuck but evolved into Freddie. It's a true nickname rather than a shortening of his real name though

tobee · 12/10/2022 01:46

Jedward

AuntTwacky · 12/10/2022 01:13

Fredward

ChillysWaterBottle · 12/10/2022 00:37

Love Frederick!

JadeTC · 12/10/2022 00:33

I like Fred/Frederick the best of those. Edward/Ed is nice but Ted is overdone imo

Epicstorm · 12/10/2022 00:31

Love Edward. Prefer Ed to Ted.

Really don’t like Fredrick/Freddie/ Fred and it’s over used.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 12/10/2022 00:15

Fred is such an undistinguished name. Can't stand it. The name of a leering butcher's boy. (I realise this makes me sound like Miss Mapp but the name Fred does that to me).

Ted is okay but they're ten a penny these days.

I like Ed/Eddie.

DramaAlpaca · 12/10/2022 00:15

Edward is fab and I like the diminutives.

I can't stand Frederick/Freddie/Fred.

daffdil · 11/10/2022 23:09

My Dad was Frederick and my favourite uncle Edward. Both known as Ted (my favourite 🥰)

Luredbyapomegranate · 11/10/2022 23:00

Lilacsunflowers · 11/10/2022 15:46

Frederick is lovely.

I don't like Edward or Tedward.

I don’t think the OP is planing to call her baby Tedward..

I’d go for Edward nn Ed just because so many Teddys right now.

Frederick is v overdone

FettleOfKish · 11/10/2022 22:58

I'd go for the one you prefer the long version of.

I know a 9 year old Edward who is steadfastly Edward, no matter how much family / school friends have tried to make Ed or Ted a thing. He just won't answer to them.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/10/2022 22:47

Both nice names - classic and elegant. But Edward is my pick as it's much more timeless (never left the top 100 historically as far as I can find) and has about a dozen nn's to boot so any boy/man can easily pick one to suit him - I personally like Ned best. Plus Edward reminds me of romantic literary characters like Rochester, Ferrars (and yes, that Twilight one, but at least that might make the name a bit cooler to younger kids?)

RuthW · 11/10/2022 21:37

Love Edwin (Ed) and Edward.

Dd was going to be Frederick, but know as Eric.

Longdarkcloud · 11/10/2022 20:36

Harry is short for Harold and Henry

Longdarkcloud · 11/10/2022 20:35

I don’t mind the Edward nns but do not like Fred which to me sounds fusty and pompous or even gormless as I the song — “ Right said Fred ——“

Mumoftwoinprimary · 11/10/2022 19:28

How do you and your husband rate Fred vs you least favourite of Ed and Fred?

Are you Ted, Fred, Ed and him Ed, Fred, Ted or does one of you prefer the other one’s Edward shortening to Fred?

@Lilacsunflowers I have just googled “why is Ted short for Edward” and found this:-

The name Ted is yet another result of the Old English tradition of letter swapping. Since there were a limited number of first names in the Middle Ages, letter swapping allowed people to differentiate between people with the same name. It was common to replace the first letter of a name that began with a vowel, as in Edward, with an easier to pronounce consonant, such as T. Of course, Ted was already a popular nickname for Theodore, which makes it one of the only nicknames derived from two different first names. Can you name the others?

GlassDeli · 11/10/2022 19:16
  1. Fred
  2. Ed
  3. Ted
ijustdontknow1 · 11/10/2022 18:13

Love Edward!

I have an 5 month old Edward who goes by Ed or Eddie and sometimes even Ted 🥰

SweetSenorita · 11/10/2022 18:09

Freddy 🥰 My favourite for a boy.

Sago1 · 11/10/2022 18:08

Our son is Edward to us, Ted to some friends and Eddie to his siblings.
He refers to himself as Ed.
Its a great name.

PinkSyCo · 11/10/2022 18:04

Ted, short for Edward is my favourite.