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Baby names

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

Teresa

53 replies

FloydOnThePull · 20/05/2018 13:20

DH and I have settled on calling our baby girl Tess. I worry that it might be too cutesy for an adult woman and therefore would like to give her the option of a more formal name that she could use when she's older if she wanted to. We've considered other options for a longer name but it has come down to a straight decision between Teresa (known as Tess) or just Tess.

As an example, DH and I both work in the sort of professions where there aren't that many women at the top anyway and those that can chose to go with a shortening for the office and a more formal version to the outside world e.g. Liz in the office but Elizabeth when corresponding with new clients or giving a speech (obviously, I'd love to think that by the time our daughter is starting her career there will be much better workplace equality and people wouldn't judge based on a name but sadly that's not the world we currently live in).

We would only refer to her as Tess. We both like the name Teresa but DH has reservations on the basis that our current Prime Minister is Theresa May (note we are proposing the different spelling). Politics wise we're both floating voters but would probably vote Lib Dem more often than not. My point is that, nobody but close family would know she even has the longer version as we'd be calling her Tess and by the time she's old enough to consider using the option, Theresa May will be a distant memory.

Anyway, long ramble to get to the point but, would you be put off calling a baby Teresa simply because people might assume that you had named her after Theresa May?

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CremeEggThief · 20/05/2018 15:48

Either Tessa or Therèse.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 20/05/2018 15:49

I would assume Teresa was named for an auntie or nan not for the PM. Surely not one is that it awe of her are theyConfused

feelingfedupnow · 20/05/2018 15:50

I looove the name Tessa. Always have!

I know someone called Curtess but she gets called Tess.

I'm able to shorten my name, but I don't like it shortened so I don't.
DS is called Oliver, but he refuses to let people call him Ollie because "my name is Oliver" (he's 6).

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 20/05/2018 15:51

Was Margaret Thatcher ever actually know as Maggie, though

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 20/05/2018 15:56

Yes, Therèse is nice too. And Thirza/Thyrza (if that is another form)

NordicNobody · 20/05/2018 15:57

I like the name Theresa in all its spelling forms. I can't start TM but that hasn't put me off the name. I think having a longer more formal name is a nice thing as well. If Tess is really a short form of Esther as well though then I like that much more. I've never heard it used personally, but I love the name Esther.

brizzledrizzle · 20/05/2018 16:04

How about Tessa, nickname Tess?

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 20/05/2018 16:06

Or if you want to go Essex you could call her Contessa.

Then if she grew up and married an Italian count she would be Contessa Contessa.

Lucked · 20/05/2018 16:10

I work in a profession which has under representation of women and I am not overly fond of ‘cute’ names but I would be more than happy to be called Tess. It is an elegant name.

OlennasWimple · 20/05/2018 16:14

Tess isn't cutesy and works as a standalone name IMO

But I love Therese, if you wanted to give her a longer name

LooseyInTheSky · 20/05/2018 16:19

Tessa?

SlowlyShrinking · 20/05/2018 16:26

I like Theresa as well. My first association wouldn’t be TM. I’d probably assume you were catholic though.

buttercup54321 · 20/05/2018 18:53

Yes I would assume she had been named after the PM and would think her middle name was probably May too .

AnyaMoondial · 21/05/2018 03:50

Tess is a brilliant name.

Esther is fantastic too.

AfterSchoolWorry · 21/05/2018 04:14

Thérèse is much nicer than Theresa.. Love Tess.

Pudding01 · 21/05/2018 06:43

Love Tess 🙂 I get you wanting a more formal variation, but Tess works on its own and I don't really like Teresa.

Like PP suggestion of Tessa too x

llangennith · 21/05/2018 07:16

My cousin is named Teresa but she’s 63 and I don’t know any younger Teresas. I like the name and I wouldn’t be deterred by the current PM being Theresa.

Sessy19 · 21/05/2018 07:50

I know two Theresas. Both were obnoxious and actually, really unattractive. I don’t liken Tess (pretty, friendly) to Teresa at all...

For me, Teresa conjures up ugly old ladies and haughtiness! Sorry.

Stick with Tess, derivative of Tessa. I think they are both classy and attractive.

ElizaDontlittle · 21/05/2018 07:59

I would currently assume she was named for the PM and you were solid, loyal Tories. I don't think she's likely to be as well remembered as, say, Margaret Thatcher but I do think being PM during this period of time will be remembered.

Tessa is a standalone name though. And spelt without the H I would think of Mother Teresa also which is a far better connotation!

Tess is less cutesy than the Millies and Maddies etc - but I think Tessa for bc is better.

Congratulations on your baby girl Flowers

InkSnail · 21/05/2018 08:22

Teresa is a nice name and as she'll be known as Tess anyway, you can just keep the full name in the background until potentially needed.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 21/05/2018 08:41

I would steer well clear of Theresa/Teresa. I disagree with all those saying May will be long forgotten by the time your DD is an adult. She will be presiding over Brexit which will no doubt be studied in history classes in the future. Also she is still serving PM and I suspect her worst is yet to come!

Tess doesn't strike me as "cutesy" at all. I think it's a beautiful name, perfectly fine as a standalone name for a grown woman as well as being lovely for a little girl. If you both love the name then I see no reason to lengthen it to something you're not 100% sure about.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 21/05/2018 09:23

Just Tess, is perfect.

DashingRed · 21/05/2018 09:25

Tess/Tessa is lovely

Teresa is definitely not!

MammieBear · 21/05/2018 11:25

Teresa is a lovely name and gives her more choice.

MadisonAvenue · 21/05/2018 11:25

Tess is really lovely, and works perfectly well as a stand alone name both as a child and an adult.

However, we have a close family member called Theresa who isn't a nice person so that makes me dislike that as a name.