Thoughts on the boys' name Woody if we have a son?

Doesn't seem to have held back Woody Harrelson! I'll admit I'd always considered Woody an American name and haven't come across any IRL, and the woody-erection slang is pretty common in my area. However these days there are so many different names from so many different cultures I think teasing about names and 'lawyer names' are largely a thing of the past so I wouldn't hold back from using Woody if I liked it.

Oh you’re with him at school right? Because it is happening. And given his age, next woody is going to be referenced sexually - sucks for him

@Pinkissmart Bizarrely - yes!

Woody- like, an erection?

@Chiangmymy I have come across numerous Edwards in my 70 years and not a single one has opted for Woody. Not older guys or younger ones or dc. Ed or Eddy or occasionally Ted or Teddy. Never Woody. You could use Woody as a Nick name at any stage. Just use it!

Traditionally it’s a NN for Edward. So if you called him Edward he could choose his fave shortening when he’s older, including Woody. I really like it (it does make me think of Woody my favourite Bay City Roller but that’s just down to my 1970s childhood, and actually no bad thing)

Woody Guthrie managed ok with his name I guess. But his birth name was Woodrow.

I knew a kid called woody. I liked it.

Or, you know, lingering trauma that can fuck with your self-confidence for life.

Would you like it if your real name was MaxiMoomins?

It’s not a proper name, sorry.

It's not for me. I'd find it hard to take a Woody seriously at work etc.

It’s an erection! Terrible name idea.

Yes I’m married to one 🤣

Woody Allen. "Woody" slang for an erection.
I wouldn't choose this name.

Woody is dreadful but that’s even worse.

It's not as simple as that to 'just' change your name. Having to choose to leave behind all of the memories, original documents/awards/certificates etc. to escape unfortunate connections and teasing/bullying... when if your parents had called you Edward, Jack or Thomas, you would never have had that to contend with.

Why should anybody need teasing (which frequently is actually bullying but just minimised and denied) to build their character? Yes, we will all face challenges and problems throughout our lives; we really don't need our parents to deliberately put more of them - linked in with our actual identity - in our way from a very early age.

Name your child Woody! Honestly all that matters is that you like it. He can change it later if it affects them and teasing in school builds character anyway!

There are a few Woodys in my bit of London and it’s fine - no teasing that I’m aware of. Generally they have Edward on the birth certificate.

It’s a dogs name, people will take the piss. You can’t name a child “woody” ffs.

Dogs name

I knew a Woody at universty. It wasn't his real name, it was a nickname.
No-one ever connected it to erections.
(although woody is definitely a word for erections, and it is has been for a long time, ie not a passing thing)

I personally would always use a full name and then a shortening eg Elizabeth and Liz, rather than just the shortening. I wish people wouldn't call short version of names nicknames, nicknames are things you get as you grow up because of something about you. Shortenings are perfectly normal variations on your name.
I like giving my kids options, so if you use Elizabeth, there are a dozen short versions they can choose, or use the whole thing.

Names today are so varied, no-one blinks an eye at an unusual name, and kids don't get teased for most of the things mn thinks they do (I'm an ex-teacher)

But with Woody it is VERY VERY connected to Toy Story, so I would probably want to give him options and start with Elwood, or Woodward and then use Woody as a shortening.

It's certainly not inspiring enough to take on the connotations imo. Lots of other nice names to choose from OP.

If you do use it OP, at least give him it as nn so he has somewhere to go if he does run into issues.

I quite like the pp suggestion of Elwood.

It sounds a stretch as a nn for Edward to me. Firstly, I wouldn't actually say Ed-Wood, I'd say ED-ward, but also there are so many established nns for it like Ed, Ted, Eddy, Teddy that Wood is just a bit random.

Does your OH like Eric (short for Erection!😂)

It reminds me of Woody Woodpecker. I went to school with someone nicknamed Woody because his surname was Woods, and everyone joked that it was really because of his hard penis - even he went along with it!

And I hate the idea of 'prescribing' a nickname. Nicknames grow with the person and being a 'nick' name they should be only loosely linked to the real name. Like calling a Thomas 'Faceache' or something. Tom is not a 'nickname' for Thomas. Nicknames aren't the short version of a name and ought to evolve organically.

One of my pet hates. By all means have a child called Woodrow and call him Woody, but that's a shortening, not a nickname. Perfectly good name, if a bit juvenile.