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Baby names

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

Original poster

Teddy

83 replies

mum2bemay22 · 12/12/2017 10:32

I absolutely love the name Teddy and it's a strong contender for our baby boy due in May but I really don't like Theodore and I can't have Edward as it's my brother in laws name. Is Teddy a name that can be used just by itself? Others opinions would be great!

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DiegoMadonna · 12/12/2017 15:30

Yeah I think "Ted" would make life easier for him (obviously they're pronounced the same so why bother with the extra d?)

Notsooriginalwerther · 12/12/2017 15:49

Yay OP! How bizarre my dd was born in may this year and if she was a boy she’s would have been teddy/teddie! I literally love love love the name I think when’s he’s young to teddy is adorable (even call him your little bear) and when he’s older ted/ tedd is great! I’ve only known one ted who is just ‘tedd’ And I loved the name the second I heard it! Congratulations and good luck!

rascal1987 · 12/12/2017 16:14

I love Teddy, what about Edison?

BAR91 · 12/12/2017 16:45

My DS is Theodore but using Roosevelt as an example we use Teddy as a NN. He also gets Theo, only me and my DH use Teddy really and his godmother calls him Ted.

howthelightgetsin · 12/12/2017 19:16

I’m not overly keen on Teddy as an actual name. It’s a nickname. But if you love it surely just Teddy or Ted? Where is “Tedd” coming from?

DaddysGirl36 · 12/12/2017 21:40

Ted is what we are calling our son if we have a boy. Not Edward or any other similar name that Ted is derived from. Just Ted.

I think by naming your son 'Ted' then Teddy could be used for a nickname. I think Ted is more grown up for birth certificate and important documents etc. I personally think that not many children go on to change their name or nickname in adulthood, they just are used to it so it's not worth assuming they will change it later if they want

HildaZelda · 13/12/2017 00:09

Are you really not keen on Theodore? Because you could have that as his 'official' name but still call him Teddy and if he didn't like Teddy when he got older he could go as Theo.

villainousbroodmare · 13/12/2017 00:35

Ted is fine but offers no options. Teddy is just so infantile imo. I would hate it in his (future) position.

NelleB · 13/12/2017 20:44

I think we will go for Edward and call him Ted, if we have a boy. I’m not overly bothered either way by Edward, we like Michael also. I think if we went Michael Edward, we’d probably call him Ted anyway. It’s hard to not be swayed by others opinions, especially when negative. I wont tell anyone my girls name as I’ve loved it for years and don’t want to be put off. I vote teddy or Ted x

Everythingsr0sie · 13/12/2017 20:54

Fab name, we have an Edward who we called Teddy.

He's in year 2 now and it has naturally become Ted most of the time.

Loverunandwine · 13/12/2017 20:56

I wouldn’t just call him teddy. Call him Edward and then he has options when older

Loverunandwine · 13/12/2017 20:56

I should say, I really like it but it’s got to carry him through all stages of his life etc.

OhHolyJesus · 13/12/2017 21:00

We have a Teddy and he is an Edward and has other middle names he could choose from - although we thought we would switch to Edward later I'm not sure I can change it as he is a Teddy through and through.

We obviously love it xx

SleepFreeZone · 13/12/2017 21:00

Edison is lovely with Teddy for short. I am so stealing that!!!!

StarUtopia · 13/12/2017 21:04

We have an Edward (on birth certificate), he is Ted to everyone. To me, he's Teddy (more of a pet name) but school call him Ted.

Great, great name. The ONLY thing wrong with it is how common it's now becoming!!! My Ted was named after my Great Uncle Ted and I had my heart set on a "Ted' since 1990!

Much as I love the name Teddy, I really don't think it's a fair option for the child. Give him a solid name. When he's applying for Law School, you need some gravitas!

ImAMarshmellow · 13/12/2017 21:18

You could go for Edwin as opposed to Edward/Theodore etc.

Alternatively you could give him a completely different first name then Ted/Teddy as his middle name. Means he has another name (the official first name) to go by as an adult (if he wants) and you still get your favourite name.

AppleKatie · 13/12/2017 21:28

I know a little boy called ‘Ted’ (short for Theodore) who has a teddy bear called ‘Harold’.

There’s a gentle irony that makes me smile there.

I love Ted/Teddy but also prefer it with a longer more solid name in the BC.

buttercup54321 · 13/12/2017 23:27

What about Edison?

Pop24 · 13/12/2017 23:30

I liked teddy but my god it has been overused. Every other boy seems to be a Teddy round us! I love the name Edward and would have used it even though my brother is edward too. Then he can be a Teddy for short.

HoneyBee1973 · 13/12/2017 23:55

I absolutely love the name Teddy. Lovely choice!
A good friend of DS (9) is called Teddy (officially Theodore, but never heard his parents refer to him as this). Some call him Ted, some Teddy. I think it's a really cool
name.
Good luck OP! x

dotdotdotmustdash · 14/12/2017 00:01

How about Todd, then you can call him Teddy or Toddy?

squoosh · 14/12/2017 01:10

And if he grows up to be good looking he can be Hot Toddy.

Dolwar · 14/12/2017 09:51

Teddy is just another of those diminutives used for actual names that people secretly roll their eyes at.

pipilangstrumpf · 14/12/2017 11:41

Toddy and Teddy are equally ridiculous for a teenage boy or man imo!

harrietm87 · 14/12/2017 19:59

It's nice but incredibly common. I know 3 born this year (2 Edwards and a Theodore, all called Teddy day to day). If you added up all the Ted, Teddy, Theodores and Edwards I'm guessing it would be in the top 5 boys names. Fine if you don't mind that.