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Baby names

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Original poster

Edward or Theodore?

39 replies

LP92 · 12/11/2023 17:19

We are torn between these two names.

Edward Myles Abbott (nn Ed/Eddie)
Theodore Myles Abbott (nn Ted or Theo if he preferred when older)

I'm just conscious Theodore is super popular at the moment but also think if we like the name then to just go for it?

I've never had any strong feelings towards Edward but DH likes it and it's a solid traditional name.

Any thoughts welcome!

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Daisybuttercup12345 · 02/12/2023 17:26

Edward.

purpledahlias · 02/12/2023 16:03

Theo(dore) will date badly imo as it's become so overused. Edward is less popular so if choose that.

dressedforcomfort · 23/11/2023 07:45

Edward Myles is lovely.

Totally sick of the millions of little Theos. Absolutely done to death in my area.

KirstenBlest · 22/11/2023 10:35

Especially if you consider that it was hardly used at all until about 2010.

Ed Abbott sounds like Head Abbot.

Firebird83 · 21/11/2023 22:16

Not Theodore/Theo, it’s very overdone

Samzzz · 16/11/2023 18:07

I love Theodore. It’s sounds very handsome

tweetypi · 13/11/2023 11:38

I love Theodore and nearly used it for my son. I do think it's a bit too popular though and I didn't want him to be one of several in his class at school. Also, local pronunciation turns it into 'Feo' which I'm not a fan of!
On that basis, I prefer Edward. I know an Edward that is nn Ted/Teddy if that helps?

SallyWD · 13/11/2023 11:07

Edward is one of my favourite names! It's excellent. And so many good options for nicknames.
It's not at all overused where I live. I don't know anyone called Edward.

Original poster
LP92 · 13/11/2023 11:06

OK thank you everyone. We've been through the top 200 boys names so many times and just nothing really stands out to us, nothing feels good enough for him (ridiculous, I know). We're just so desperate to get it right that I think we could be overthinking it at this point! I'm sure he will grow into his name whatever we give him.

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 13/11/2023 09:50

Russell goes very well with the surname

muchalover · 13/11/2023 09:49

Ed Abbot is slightly tricky to say.

Ned is very unused and a nickname for Edward.

One of my sons is Jed which is really unusual apparently.

KirstenBlest · 13/11/2023 09:46

@ZoyaTheDestroyer , my friend gave her DD a name that has an obvious shortening (e.g. Victoria), yet she maintains that no one ever shortens the name.
The DD's facebook and linked in is 'Vicky Surname'.

RuthW · 13/11/2023 09:32

Edward is lovely.

swinginwind · 13/11/2023 09:22

I like Edward Myles but if it's shortened to Ed, then it goes sound right with Abbott as the surname.

toastofthetown · 13/11/2023 09:07

Theodore is more popular than Edward now, so he’d be more likely to share a classroom with a Theodore, but Edward has been a name which had been in the top hundred in England and Wales since records began, so there are far more Edwards around than Theodores. He’ll only be in groups of his own age group for a short amount of his life, but when he grows up and joins work there’s a cumulative popularity of the generations of Edwards before him, as well as the ones in his age group (Edward is still a top 30 name). Just another factor to consider if popularity matters to you.

In your shoes, I’d go with Theodore as it sounds like that’s the name you love.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 13/11/2023 08:46

LP92 · 13/11/2023 08:33

This is a good point. I do have preferences but don't hate any of the diminutives so he could choose when he was older enough.

Show quote history

Then you're good to go! I'm always surprised by the number of posters on here who have chosen a specific name for their DC but hate the most common diminutive. As a secondary school teacher I often see teens claiming a bit of their identity by going by a different diminutive and they have an uncanny knack of finding the one that their parents dislike the most Grin. I loved Victoria for DD but I couldn't have lived with Vicky so it had to come off the shortlist!

TotalOverhaul · 13/11/2023 08:35

I love both.

Original poster
LP92 · 13/11/2023 08:33

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 13/11/2023 08:19

Edward, but remember if you have very strong opinions on diminutives that you lose all control of them from UKS2 onwards.

This is a good point. I do have preferences but don't hate any of the diminutives so he could choose when he was older enough.

OP posts:
Original poster
LP92 · 13/11/2023 08:28

BoleynMemories13 - I think I agree with you, Ted is nicer than Eddie but ultimately he has a few things to choose from when he's older.

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 13/11/2023 08:22

Both lovely names - Theodore is definitely overused at the moment if that is something that would bother you.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 13/11/2023 08:19

Edward, but remember if you have very strong opinions on diminutives that you lose all control of them from UKS2 onwards.

BoleynMemories13 · 13/11/2023 06:41

I prefer Edward as a given name. I've always thought Theodore sounds a bit wet.

I much prefer Ted to Eddie though. Why not Ted for Edward? It's a popular shortening for both Edward and Theodore.

oneinamillieon · 12/11/2023 21:48

edward is very "old man"
theodore is nice, but ted is also very "old man" so i would go with theo
have you considered noah, elijah, benjamin, alexander, or leo?

Soffii87 · 12/11/2023 21:04

either. Because I think nn Eddie or Teddy go best with your surname !

Velvetbee · 12/11/2023 20:54

Edward.