Does Teddy need a 'grown up' name?

[MercuryRising]

Help! We had a little boy 3 weeks ago who we have called Teddy. We have yet to register his birth, in part because we cannot decide if on his birth certificate we should register him as Teddy or Edward. I don't think he will ever be referred to as Edward but members of my family keep telling me that Teddy is more of a nickname so it would be good for him to have the full name of Edward registered in case he wants to use it later in life. Im really unsure and feel that I might regret either choice. What do you think wise ladies?

Thank you so much for all of your replies. We will definitely go with Edward. I can't remember who asked but Edward shortens to Ed,Eddie, Ted, Teddy and Ned so lots of options. I hope he will stay Teddy or Ted but ultimately it will be his choice and at least he will have lots of choices.

Good choice. Much better to have a whole name option.

Do be aware that Theodore/Teddy/Ted/Theo are all stupidly popular at the moment, I know millions of them. I think it will be this generation’s Matthew. So at least with Edward he’ll have the option of more classic name that’s not so overused

Wouldn't Ed or Eddie be the natural shortening for Edward?

Sensible choice!
I know someone called Mandy who resents not having the Amanda option. She is in her 50s.
I also know an Edward currently known as Ed but was Edward at nursery, Eddie at school but called Ted or Tedda at home.

To a couple of prior posters: Ted is a traditional nickname for an Edward.

Like Dick for Richard . Peg for Margaret requires more imagination but really Ted for Ed is not that much of a stretch!

I know someone called Mandy who resents not having the Amanda option.

Same. The person I knew informally changed their name to Manda when they gre up as they considered Mandy to be a little girls name. So introduced themselves as such, was known as this in the workplace etc.

I think having a formal version gives a person options. So if they grow up and still love Mandy for instance they can crack on using it, otherwise they can choose the option they feel is a better fit at that point.

I have a 12 year old Teddy. Not Edward, not Theodore or anything else. Teddy on the birth certificate

He suits his name perfectly. He loves his name and prefers Teddy to Ted although he uses both. Never been teased. Never been called Teddy Bear (apart from by me ) . He obviously is the cutest thing ever to me naturally, but he's not a cutesy boy at all and it just suits him

Remember - people 'become' their names so if you love the name teddy then call him teddy. It's a different name to Edward which is nowhere near as nice - in my opinion

Oh and when I had my Teddy 12 years ago it wasn't popular at all.

@MercuryRising honestly don't be swayed by a load of random people on the internet! If you love the name then use the bloody name! Have the courage in your own convictions here.

By all means if you're having a wobble and actually love Edward as a name then crack on. But if you don't love Edward then why on earth call your child it?

He will NOT hate his name. It's honestly pretty cool.

My little boy is Freddie. He was always going to be known as Fred/Freddie but we really felt he needed a full name as he might want that option when he’s older so he’s Alfred on his birth certificate. Lots of people have questioned why we did it though which surprised me. That being said, I teach and there are plenty of Freddies and Teddys aged 7 and under so as a previous poster said it probably won’t be that much on an issue when these children are adults. If I had an Edward, he would be known as Teddy.

All the small Teddy's I know are actually Edward. Teddy to me is a child's name - not the name of a ceo / dr/ lawyer etc.

Called our newborn DS Edward and when pregnant planned to shorten it to Teddy or Bear but actually, he just suits Edward . I definitely wouldn’t want to be an adult going for a serious job named Teddy...

I'd register as a longer version. I do generally think it's fine on its own - it is so popular that the cutsey thing won't be an issue when he's older as there'll be loads of adult teddys. Buuuut as there is no guarantee the child will like their given name I always think it's best to give options for shortening or nns where possible.

Yawn at the tired old doctor/lawyer thing

Teddy is a lovely name on it's own. And there's nothing wrong with going for a professional job with the name Teddy. If employers really judge based on names that a person gets no say over then that really does seem totally unfair.

but he can be Ed/Eddie/Ted without having to be Edward, anyway, can't he?

I don't know a single Teddy. I know of 2 Neds but that's it.

Having helped my boss review CVs when I worked in the City, no one would have blinked an eye at the name Teddy. Honestly where do people get these ideas? “Oh wow, Cambridge degree and wonderful internships but he’s called Teddy? NEXT”

Honestly where do people get these ideas? “Oh wow, Cambridge degree and wonderful internships but he’s called Teddy? NEXT”

If I received a CV with that name, I would never dismiss it (provided they were suitably qualified). I would however do a double take and have a silent giggle in my head when I saw the name. If I saw it on a sign in sheet at nursery though I wouldn’t give it a second glance.

I would register as Edward but don't tell people that. Just say his name is Teddy. If they ask if its short for something I would say no - his name is Teddy. (Otherwise people that don't like the name Teddy will feel free to not use it) Then see how things pan out several years down the line, it should only be in response to what Teddy wants - not what other adults opinions are about his name...

I almost named my DS Teddy. He can always go by Ted as a more “grown-up” option. Edward is ok but to me the natural shortening is Eddy/Ed.

Why would you name your child a name (Edward) but tell anyone that that's his name ?

If you prefer the name Ted or Teddy, just call him that!

I'd probably have Ted on the bc , that's more of a "grown up" name . Unless you actually like Edward. I personally don't so id never give an official name just because people say I should. Theodore is nicer

Definitely a full name on the birth certificate. I would hate to be an adult with name like Teddy or Dolly.

I have two children, (both names changed below) DD has the "nickname" on her birth certificate, its her true name. (Only once this year have I had the question "Is she Dolly on the birth certificate?" "Yes")

DS we call "Teddy" but he's Edward on the birth certificate.

So, with DS, at school his teacher calls him Teddy. But most of his school notebooks/labels etc say Edward. "Official" certificates (eg for a music exam) say Edward. Letters about school places say Edward. Doctors appointments are for Edward. The savings account for his future is in the name of Edward. His passport says Edward. etc etc. It isn't a case of, put it on the birth certificate and then its an option for his future. It really is his name.

So please think about whether you REALLY want him to have the name of Teddy REALLY or whether you are happy to see him increasingly, as he grows up, referred to everywhere as Edward.

Life and identity is very slightly easier for DD who is absolutely and definitely Dolly in all cases and situations everywhere.

Edward is a good choice, I like Theodore too equally.