Would yout Ted or Teddy on birth certificate?

No way would I put Teddy on the birth certificate (sorry Shineon!). It's a cure nickname for a baby but... >

I'd use Ted. (well, I'd use Edward but choosing between Ted/Teddy, I'd go with Ted)

Clumsymum, yes obviously when choosing a name, it is a good idea to think of a name that you hope your child will enjoy living with. But when it comes down to it if you choose a name you like then that is because you think it is a nice name! I just think if you don't like the name Margaret, but love the name Meg, then Meg would be the best name to choose, and i don't see why this would hinder them in future life.

Many 'proper' names came from other names originally anyway or have been translated. I don't see how names like Sam, Ben, Jake and even Ted are not 'proper' enough to go on the birth cert. These days shortened forms are more common than originals (eg Alfie etc).

A vote for Ted here. But then I would

"Why not just call your child the name you like"

Because YOU are not the only one who has to live with it. In all probability your child will have to carry on with the name long after you are gone.

As a parent, I think I have a responsibility to avoid doing something that will cause acute embarrasment (or at least discomfort) for my childs whole life.

I would put Edward or Theodore and call him Ted. Definitely not Teddy - that is a cutesy nickname for a little boy and lovely when he is little. But then both DS1 and DS2 have formal names on their birth certificates and are known by an established shortening. I've got a nephew called James known as Jamie too.

NOT Teddy, FGS

I would choose Edward, but call him Ted

I know lots of people who are known by their middle name throughout their lives but have a sensible CV name. Teddy sounds like a little boys name like Poppy - cute for a girl but can you imagine at 40 saying you're called Poppy?

So why not give him Teddy as his middle name if you can't bear Edward or Theodore but introduce him from day one as Teddy.

Angrypixie for me in terms of the list you give, I'd put on the birth certificate James for Jamie, Andrew for Andy, Charles for Charlie, Edward for Eddie, Francis for Frankie and Henry or Harrison for Harry.

Barry isn't a nickname for anything afaik, and neither is Gregory.

I don't personally feel that any of those names are only appropriate for a baby, obviously lots of men are known by those names throughout their lives, it's just that personally if I chose to call my child one of them, I'd like to give them the option to drop the nickname later if they wanted to.

Is it the 'ee' sound at the end that makes people think Teddy is only appropriate for a baby, or the association with bear?

Do people feel the same about
Jamie
Andy (also association with Pandy)
Barry
Charlie
Eddie
Frankie
Gregory
Harry etc

Are these all 'baby' names too? I have to say, I just don't get it.

Neither. I'd use Theodore or Edward on BC, and then use whichever suited the baby when he was a baby, the child when he is a child, and then call him whatever he chooses as an adult. Which almost certainly won't be Teddy, and may well not be Ted. Versatility is the thing.

I know lots of people who were called a baby version of their name when they were small children. Many of them have grown out of them, and use the more formal version as adults. It's only when you meet their parents that you realise they were once known as 'xx'ie. Of course some of them really liked the baby version and stuck with it right through, but it is nice to have a choice (for myself I never use my baby name outside my immediate family).

Teddy is a baby name and he won't be a baby forever.

Give him Ted or Theodore or Edward so he can sound like a grown up one day

Ted

Teddy Roosevelt's name was Theodore.
I'm pretty sure when they swore him into office they called him Theodore.

It does illustrate my point-he can call himself anything he wants to, but for official things he has a formal name. If he was a top judge called Teddy he might find it embarrassing, but he would be able to have the professional name of George.
I am never known by my full name, but I like to use it on occasions and I like the choice it gives me.

Theycallme lofty Have met Teddy Sherringham several times and he adores being a Teddy!

Piscesmoon, it doesn't illustrate your point.

His name is George, he is randomly called Teddy. Therefore call your child by the name you like eg Ted and then if they hate it they can make something up, like Great Uncle Teddy/George!

Please don't put a name you hate on the birth certificate. I'm with you HazeyJane.

(I'm also throwing Dr Seuss in as a famous grown up known as 'Ted')

I don't understand why if I liked the name Ted for a boy, I would decide to call him a name I don't like (ie Theodore or Edmund).

Why not just call your child the name you like!

(Can I throw Teddy Roosevelt and Ted Hughes into the mix, as well respected Ted/dy's)

I like proper/formal names so never in a month of Sunday would call my son Ted or Teddy on their birth cert. but each to their own.

exactly then he can choose Ted teddy or theo

I agree with flowerybeanbag. My DS is Edward but he wouldn't have a clue who we were talking to if we called him that. But i do like the name Edward in the first place but he gets called Teddy &Ted.