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?

My cousin Teddy decided he wanted to be called Edward at the age of 10.

I work with an Edmund...he uses his middle name.

I find this all quite odd, in a way - the idea that some names aren't proper and need to have a different version in reserve just in case.

I wonder if everyone who's ever named their child Amy, for instance, has though 'but that might not be grown up enough for her so I'd better put Amelia on the birth certificate just in case she wants to be a high court judge'. And whether all the Amys think, 'God I wish Mum and Dad has put Amelia on my birth certificate, Amy's so babyish, I'll never get to be a high court judge'.

Teddy is very popular, there’s 2 at my children’s school. I’ve got an Archie which isn’t shortened although if he’s being naughty he does get called Archibald even that’s not his ‘proper’ name

It does need a real name to have on the birth certificate.

Teddy isn't a real name, it's more of a nickname to show familiarity or friendliness.

Edward would be more appropriate for a birth certificate

why? What is this rule, who put it in place?

We have a Theodore - he was a teddy when younger and as he's got older (he's now 9) he goes by Theo or Ted on occasion. I think giving them an option to change is a good idea.

It's not a rule, it depends on how you're brought up.

In my family, we all have 'Proper' names, a middle name and our father's surname - none of this, 'yoonique' naming and double barreled to include both. We're just very traditional like that.

The op asked for opinions and she's getting them. She can put Teddy on the form if she likes, but don't be surprised by the judgments later in life.

Ds2 has a cute nickname and uses it every day. His passport is the full version as his the dr and hospital but it doesn’t affect his identity at all. He’s 8 people usually ask him what he’s prefer to be called. He is the Teddy equivalent every day in school, the dr and hospital call him ‘Teddy’ to his face.
We have been asked what name we prefer on certificates and report cards and he has asked them to put ‘Edward’ without input from me.
He’s actually pretty secure in who he is prefers ‘Teddy’ will tell people he prefers ‘Teddy’ but likes ‘Edward’ on more official stuff.
One thing I would say though is always make sure he knows his name is Edward if you do put that on the bc because my dad has horrible memories of being called Edward by a teacher and arguing his name was Teddy then being dismissed by my gran when he asked her be a he’d always been called Teddy at home. I always made sure my ‘Teddy’ knew what his name was so he never had any upsetting confusion.

Funnily enough, I'm able to think differently from my parents (born in the 1930s). So nothing to do with how you're brought up, more to do with you think think as an adult able to formulate opinions of your own without referring back to Mum and Dad.

I must say that I would massively judge anyone who in turn judged someone for the name their parents gave them, and for assuming certain things about them because of their name. I would not think that person was particularly mature in their thinking, or professional, and I would wonder how much bias they had in other areas. Basically, I would judge them to be a not-very-bright snob.

sickmumma so should everyone have the option, even if they don't have a name with a nickname? I mean, if it's important for the Teddys of the world, presumably it's importation for the Janes and Clares too.

I would in this instance as Teddy is quite cutesey.

It's not a comparable name to Amy.

I agree. Amy is a stand alone name. Teddy is the name of s fluffy bear!

So you don't judge people who walk around with ridiculous names such as princess or after the recent press example 'abcd'?

I don't know anyone who has given their child a nickname on a birth certificate whether they're my age or my parents. I didn't realise people did that until joining mumsnet a few years ago!

It's the same as Charlie, Harry, Freddie, Sammy. They're not names. They are shortened nicknames.

I just don't see why parents can't just give their children sensible names.

My dad was Ted or Teddy and was called Edward.

I know a Teddy and by the time he was in juniors he used to complain to his mum that he didn’t have a proper name - wished he was called Adam or Jack. His parents now regret not giving him a more traditional name on the birth certificate and just using Teddy as a nickname.

Nobby there is a Princess and a Queen in DD's school. They are both from Nigerian families where these kinds of names are not unusual. I really would be quite careful of how your judging names, tbh - snob might not be the only thing thought about you.

Names change - I'm sure Ella was once simply a short for Isabella, Arabella etc - now it's a standalone name. Should all the Ellas out there have a fallback 'proper' name or are they allowed to simply be called Ella?

I have an 8 year old Teddy. He is officially Edward, in part because it is a family name but also because we wanted to give him the option when he was older. Teddy was only in the top 10,000 names when he was born.

He generally gets Teddy but occasionally Ted for short (or Eduardo if he is doing Spanish!). Official forms are completed as Edward but no one ever calls him that unless it’s somewhere like the doctors.

He likes that he has options when he’s older, though I did say to him that I would probably always call him Ted or Teddy as he is just not Edward to me.

I’m bemused at those who say it’s a babyish name as you’ve named your child after a teddy bear given they are named after Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt. I see it more as a name that was popular early 20th century with a revival as a lot of names of that era have had lately.

There will be so many grown up Teddys in 20 years’ time, it’s really not an issue.

My son is Freddie. A very popular ‘nickname’ name. We didn’t register him as Frederick (I still call him it, along with Fred) as we didn’t want that to be his name. Simple. I know of a few Babies called Teddy. Go with the name you love x

It's such a popular name that by the time he's old enough to worry about work and business there will be plenty of Teddys, Neds, Harrys, Jays etc for whom that is the only form of their name, no longer version.

If you want to register him as Edward do it because you like the name not because of some upwardly mobile snobs on mumsnet.

As someone with three names herself (full English name, Gaelic equivalent, Gaelic nickname) there is a lot to be said for keeping it simple!

Teddy is cute for a fluffy toy or a little baby/toddler.

I'd put a grown up name on his birth certificate.

@RiverTam maybe I am judging, I see Teddy differently to say Charlie for Charles. I think it's because I feel Teddy isn't taken as seriously as a name such as an Edward or a Ted because it's the name of a cuddly toy. Just like Kitty for a girl - cute as a nickname but not a full name as such. I guess I prefer more traditional names, I wouldn't judge someone for the name without knowing them perhaps more the parents but like PP have said times are changing traditional names are less 'in' and there are lots more 'out there' names. I guess it's just personal preference and everyone has an opinion.
Probably many people don't like my children's names - half my family hated Theodore when we first said it!

I know two adult Teddys but neither of them are what you could call grown ups

Definitely Edward

Why, are they Teddy Bears 🧸 ?