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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Woody as nn - some positive comments would be good ... but please be truthful

50 replies

rac123 · 07/06/2011 20:09

OK - my DS was born 2 weeks ago and is called Edward. I thought his nickname would be Eddie and my DH thought it would be Woody.

I think Woody sounds rude (as in erection) and awfully middle class. However whilst I was in hospital he and my DD were calling him Woody and it seems to have stuck.

I am used to calling him Woody now in the home but find it hard to introduce him as this to others.

Does anyone else know any Wooody's (other than Zoe Ball's!) and what are your thoughts?

To be fair my DH hardly asks for anything and has said it I really don't like it will can call him another nn - however he does not like Eddie as it reminds him of old men.

I know he should have discussed this more before he was born but I thought he knew my views.

Thank you!

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GwendolineMaryLacey · 07/06/2011 20:13

I actually quite like it. If this one is a boy he'll more than likely be Edward and I was debating Ned. Woody....hmmm.... Don't know any others though.

AnnetteTwitcher · 07/06/2011 20:20

I have a woody and absolutely love it! It's a super friendly little name and I've never even considered the wood/erection aspect. He gets tons of complements on it :)

mumatron · 07/06/2011 20:21

I have a woodrow nn woody in the family.

Caused a few raised eyebrows to begin with but now we don't even think about it.

I love it personally, much better than Eddie

mumatron · 07/06/2011 20:21

I have a woodrow nn woody in the family.

Caused a few raised eyebrows to begin with but now we don't even think about it.

I love it personally, much better than Eddie

diggingintheribs · 07/06/2011 20:22

I'm sure he will get teased as a teenager but teenagers can come up with something for any name!

I'm sure most kids will just think of toy story which is a cool association

(Annette - saying 'I have a woody and absolutely love it' does sound rude!!)

Catsu · 07/06/2011 20:26

I know 2 woodys. One short for woodrow and the other is just woody.
I like it. I have an Edward (who has nn teddy) and I would also be happy if people called him woody.
If you like it and are only hesitant due to worrying what other peoples reactions will be then I'd say go for it and call him woody!
If you are not that keen on it yourself then don't use it. You've got to be happy with your dcs name!

suwoo · 07/06/2011 20:27

I love it. It couldn't have been used though as my surname is three syllables, the first two being Wood-ee.

So wrong.

Mumswang · 07/06/2011 20:32

AnnetteTwitcher I have a woody and absolutely love it!

Snigger

Sorry erection here. V much so

blossomtrees · 07/06/2011 20:37

i had a cat called that who i loved very much

usualsuspect · 07/06/2011 20:39

Its awful

messagetoyourudy · 07/06/2011 20:41

I have a Woodrow his nn is Woody (he is 4) - I was really unsure for a long time (probably the first 2 years of his life!) as I felt it was a bit too american/celebrity linked.

However, I now love it - and he does to - he is famous in school because of the Toy Story link. I have never met another and I think it is a very strong unique name.

Obviously you have other options for a nn which he can use later in life if he wishes.

Iggly · 07/06/2011 20:49

Why don't you introduce him as Edward and keep Woody as the personal family nickname?

I have a nickname only used by immediate family.

DS has a nickname which only DH and I know and use.

I don't understand why people impose nicknames from the start - to me they evolve depending on someone's character surely?

petitdonkey · 07/06/2011 20:57

I have an Edward who is Ed or Eddy- I like Woody (there is one in DDs class and that is his full name). I would try and use Edward and Woody equally so that he knows that both are his name then when an old lady asks his name you can say 'Edward' and when you meet a trendy young thing you can say 'Woody'!
Fwiw, my children all answer to more than one name Ds has four, DD1 has Two and DD2 has four (by which I mean nicknames or shortenings that they will happily answer to).

AnnetteTwitcher · 07/06/2011 21:11

Luckily I have potty mouth sense of humor so can see how my love of woody might tickle some. Just honestly have never considered it and expect boys will find something to laugh at regardless - eg isn't ned what Scottish people call chavs?!

Mollydoggerson · 07/06/2011 21:42

I like Woody, wouldn't remind me of an erection tbh.

Why the need for a nn at all Edward is nice on it's own.

needanothacuppa · 07/06/2011 22:15

my ds is Edward, never been called Woody in his life! So don't worry what people will think too much. We always have called him Edward, occasionally abbreviated to Ed in cards notes etc, now he's older friends call him Ed or Eddie which is fine. Someone else I know, her Edward has always been Teddy, and probably will be Ted when he's older which I like too.

Edwards a lovely name (biased!) and doesn't have imho any embarrassing shortened versions. I luckily escaped being a boy as my mother wanted to call me Richard if I had been a boy, as it cant be shortened to anything untoward. .... - don't know what planet she was on!!! Sorry don't mean to offend any Richards out there, I know lots of nice people called Richard! ....

Mowlem · 08/06/2011 00:45

I know a Woody. As far as I know, he has not been teased for his name. It kind of suits him now and is just accepted.

nooka · 08/06/2011 03:56

I don't think that Woody is used very much for erections any more, nor do I think it middle class (I'm middle class and I've never met an Edward nn'd Woody). I do think that it is quite American.

When my children were little I always introduced them to other people using their full names, and then used their (many) nns myself. It's only been as they have grown up and decided themselves to mainly use their nn of choice that I've introduced them that way.

WottingerAndWottingerAreDead · 08/06/2011 07:03

I know a Woody and think it's lovely. Agree, kids will tease over anything, not a reason to not go with it. The 'association' never occured before for me.

swash · 08/06/2011 09:37

There's Woody Allen, of course, and there is a Woody in Cheers.

sparkle12mar08 · 08/06/2011 11:34

Personal opinnion only - Woody is awful, sorry. I wouldn't countenance it at all and would avoid Edward precisely because of this issue.

mumoftoomany · 08/06/2011 11:48

If I'm honest then yes I do think of an erection when I hear the word 'Woody', sorry . I also think it sounds very cutesy/silly/comical. In other words I wouldn't encourage it as a nickname.

seeker · 08/06/2011 11:54

It's an insane thing to call a human being. Edwaed has loads of lovely shortenings - why not just call him Edward and the see which one suits him as he gets older? He man just always be Edward. I have a Patrick who is never anything else - dispite my effots when he was younger.

singersgirl · 08/06/2011 11:57

Honestly? Erection or synonym for stupid, woodenhead, Woody Woodpecker, Woody from Toy Story. The whole idea of being made of wood or woody I just don't get as a name. I suppose you could get strong or natural from it, but I just get solid, tough, fibrous. I know Woody Allen and Woody Guthrie etc but I just think it's so unattractive - not just the meaning but the look of the word with that 'woo' at the beginning. Also open to puns: Woody or wouldn't he?

I don't think it's middle class particularly, I just think it's trying to be cool.

rachel234 · 08/06/2011 12:03

I don't like Woody at all - the erection connection, the comical/cutesy nature of it, I'm sorry.

I'm all for name diversity and don't think anyone is 'trying to be cool', I just happen to dislike this name.

Regarding teasing, imagine a Woody and a Willy in class together .

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