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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Freddy or Freddie

42 replies

shufflebum · 20/10/2011 22:04

After much deliberation we have decided to name DS2 Freddy. I'm not in love with it but have got to register him tomorrow so will go with DH's choice as I had final say with DS1 (Xander). However my mum has just thrown a spanner in the works sayng that the way we have chosen to spell it with a "y" is the female form and he will get teased at school
If you see Freddy written down do you think of a girl?

OP posts:

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spottypancake · 21/10/2011 12:08

It's not snobbishness - it's so that when the child is grown up, they will have a grown up name to use if they need it rather than a childish one. I think Fred should go on the BC, nn Freddy.

Montsti · 21/10/2011 12:09

Personally I would put Frederick on his BC but call him Freddie from the start and don't even mention the Frederick thing to anyone. This at least gives him the opportunity to have a longer/more "serious" name if he chooses when he is older. I am a Victoria but have been Vicky since a baby/toddler/throughout school but when I started work I felt Victoria (which I hated as a child/teenager) was more appropriate and I was taken more seriously and now I much prefer it!

I think it would be weird if he just decided to call himself Frederick when older if it wasn't his name...

Anyway just my opinion - for what it's worth I LOVE the name Freddie (spelt like that not Freddy - a bit like Charlie - just looks better I think!) and not a huge fan of Frederick and this was a problem I had when naming my DS so went for another name....am pregnant again (not sure what I am having but almost hope it's a girl just so I don't have the same dilemma!)...

Good luck with whatever you choose - a great name either way!

maamalady · 21/10/2011 12:09

RiffRaffeta - you do realise that Flintoff's first name is Andrew, don't you?

sleepywombat · 21/10/2011 12:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Montsti · 21/10/2011 12:39

I agree sleepywombat - you are right. My point was more to give little Freddie/Freddy the choice when he grows up...BTW you've got some nice-named friends!

jellybeans · 21/10/2011 12:45

One thing I have noticed with older kids, sometimes they get teased if they have an old fashioned long form on the register. I know of an Archie who gets teased as his 'real' name is Archibald. Just something to consider as well as the fact that teachers/doctors/letters will use the long form nearly all the time. It can be good to have a choice but it can be a pain as well. So i would only do it if you like both names.

RiffRaffeta · 21/10/2011 12:48

Er, yes I know Freddie is Andrew Flintoff's nickname. The point is, he's a 6ft whatever rugby player and if its not his christened name but its still OK for him and he's not a toddler.

Freddie/Freddy is not a babyish name. It can of course be shortened to Fred, so there is still variety on offer.

Kayzr · 21/10/2011 13:09

Sorry but Andrew/Freddie flintoft doesn't play rugby. It's cricket.

And I also think it's snobbiness that causes people to say put a proper name on a BC. Freddie is a proper name and it's pointless putting Frederick on the BC if no one is going to call him that.

RiffRaffeta · 21/10/2011 13:42

Oh yeah, cricket. Whatever. [hgrin]

Psammead · 21/10/2011 13:54

I do not understand what people think is snobby about it.

I prefer the longer version of a name on the BC because it gives the child more options later on of what the call themselves. My BCn ame is long and formal and has tons of nickname potential, which is something I really like.

I know that theoretically an adult can call him or herself anything they like so long as it doesn't benefit them financially etc, but in reality if your name is Alexander, you automatically have more natural options than if your parents had named you Al.

It's perhaps a matter of personal taste, but a snobbery thing? Come on! People have their reasons to think a certain way about things like this - why assume the worst?

FreddieMercurysBolero · 21/10/2011 14:00

Freddie, but I may be biased.

JollyBear · 21/10/2011 14:10

If DD2 had been a boy she was going to be Freddie with Wilfred on the bc for later options.

Original poster

shufflebum · 21/10/2011 16:51

Hmm, still haven't booked the appointment to register him, am holding out that DH will give in and let me call him Jude
Anyhow I think we will stick to Freddy rather than Freddie and if he wants to call himself Esmerelda later he'll have to do it by deed poll likewise if he would rather have Frederick on a piece of paper that no one ever sees!

OP posts:

RiffRaffeta · 21/10/2011 16:52

"People have their reasons to think about things like this - why assume the worst?"

Er, because thats been my experience. With a Freddie.

Kayzr · 21/10/2011 17:05

If one of my friends suddenly got a degree or turned 18 and said "I want to be called Frederick instead if Freddie" I'd think they were really stuck up. There is no reason for long full 'proper' names if they'll never get used.

spottypancake · 21/10/2011 19:39

Kayzr - it's a proven fact that "Victoria" on a CV gets more interviews than "Vicky". People have carried out research to prove it - identical CVs apart from the name. So not really a question of being stuck up, just being reasonable about becoming a professional adult.

Fixture · 30/10/2011 18:46

What does choice of name have to do with getting a degree or turning 18? [hconfused] Anyway, Frederick isn't a "stuck up" name, it's a normal, classic name.

"If one of my friends suddenly got a degree or turned 18 and said "I want to be called Frederick instead if Freddie" I'd think they were really stuck up."

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