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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Teddy as female nn

31 replies

PiratePetespajamas · 10/02/2019 14:00

Does anyone have a female Teddy? Not as given name on birth certificate, but as nn for a longer name? STILL trying to name our daughter and considering this abbreviation of a longer name but I know Teddy is increasingly popular as a given name for boys - do you think people will always assume she’s a boy? I don’t want to store up problems for her at school.

The name is Theodora but realistically I think we and others will probably shorten if we go for this. The only other nn I like is Dolly, but I’ve seen that slated on here. Really don’t like Thea.

So does anyone have a female Teddy and does she get grief for it?

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merrybloominchristmas · 10/02/2019 14:01

what about dora?

teddy is either a teddy bear, a boy called edward or an all in one sexy camisole and pants things for me

LaBelleSausage · 10/02/2019 14:02

I know a female Teddy, full name Edwina.
She’s in her 30s and has never had any grief over it but Teddy is more popular now so it could be different.

We also went to a single sex girls school, so it’s not as though there were any boy Teddy’s around

HappyPunky · 10/02/2019 14:04

I don't know any female Teddys but in my head I think the female spelling would be Teddie.
Dora is lovely as a short name for Theodora though.

Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 10/02/2019 14:05

Good enough for Robbie William's dd. ..

DramaAlpaca · 10/02/2019 14:12

I like Theodora but would be put off because I dislike all of the usual diminutives, Thea, Dora etc.

Teddie spelled that way looks more obviously feminine than Teddy. I can't imagine her getting teased.

But I really like Dolly. I think it's adorable, and it works with Theodora because it's a diminutive of Dora.

Original poster

PiratePetespajamas · 10/02/2019 14:28

I really like Dolly too, but have seen tons of comments on here about it, like “you’re naming a child, not a toy/dog/sheep” etc and so it makes me feel bad!

OP posts:

bridgetreilly · 10/02/2019 15:40

Dolly is perfectly fine as a nickname. I would not give it as the full name for the reasons you suggest, but that's no reason not to shorten it to that, especially when she's little.

MikeUniformMike · 10/02/2019 16:43

Teddy short for Theodora is ok.
It is very popular as a boy's name though.
Dolly is ok, short for Dorothy.

merrybloominchristmas · 10/02/2019 17:07

you're right-dolly is dreadful

Susannach · 10/02/2019 17:08

I don’t like Dolly but Teddy is sweet for a girl. I know a Theodora “Theo” which is pretty cool!

sometimesalways · 10/02/2019 17:15

I know a Teddie.
Initially I thought it was a rather unusual female version but I got used to it quickly and now think it's cute actually

Modestandatinybitsexy · 10/02/2019 17:56

I have a nn that's a common boy's name. I mostly use my full name and introduce myself as nn in person. Haven't had any issues with being mis-sexed.

I like Dolly and Teddy and I think either would be cute nn for Theodora.

MumUnderTheMoon · 10/02/2019 22:02

I think teddy is great for a girl I considered tommie for my daughter when I was pregnant thomasina is great but I was just going to use Tommie on the bc as well. Don't see why you can't just use Teddy. Or you could use Tedra it means supreme gift.

BertrandRussell · 10/02/2019 22:04

“And these are my sons, Chloe and Alice”

milienhaus · 10/02/2019 22:04

How about Dory? But both Dolly and Teddy seem fine to me!

FenellaMaxwell · 11/02/2019 02:54

There’s a female Theo in Ballet Shoes. The Theodora I know is known as Toto.

BasiliskStare · 11/02/2019 03:27

I know someone who's daughter is Theodora and thought Teddy would be a nice nickname. Hasn't happened. Nicknames evolve I think, not imposed. ( her nick name is lovely by the way - just not the one originally thought of)

BudgieBird · 11/02/2019 03:43

I knew a girl called Tedi, for Theodora, growing up. AFAIK she never got teased about it.

SparkiePolastri · 11/02/2019 04:00

Teddie (ie) is absolutely fine as a nn gor a girl - go for it.

Coolaschmoola · 11/02/2019 04:07

I wouldn't, simply because of the Robbie Williams thing.

SparkiePolastri · 11/02/2019 04:31

To be fair, nobody cares about Robbie Williams (I'm his era and had no idea that was his DD's name). And kids being born now especially won't.

BasiliskStare · 11/02/2019 04:45

@SparkiePolastri - I agree , of all the reasons not to choose a name , that Robbie Williams has a child with the same name would be bottom of my list. I think I remember now that was his daughter's name but I wouldn't have done without prompting.

SparkiePolastri · 11/02/2019 04:50

Exactly Basilisk - I would say, e.g. don't go for Harper for such a reason, but not Teddie/Teddy.

BasiliskStare · 11/02/2019 07:11

@Coolaschmoola - I hope I wan't being rude to you but I do agree with @SparkiePolastri , in that unless you are a big Robbie Williams fan ( not not not saying you are ) but Theodora does not have a " named after a celebrity child " thing about it in the same way that say Brooklyn would. May be because my friend had a Thoedora who is some years old than RW's and also it is a ( how do I say this ) "proper' name which has been going for ages.

But my main point was , re nick names & only my experience , if you give your child a name and especially if it is a long one , you can call them what you will , but when they start mixing with other people and children , nick names will come out , come what may. My friend thought Teddy would be her daughter's nickname , it isn't. I deliberately gave my son a short name , hoping no nicknames. Guess what - he has them ( and even by me )

SweetheartNeckline · 11/02/2019 13:03

Depends what you mean by nickname IMO. I have a female Bobby but she is only called it at home or by close friends, it's not used by her teachers or in any more official capacity. It's actually not really any shorter to say, whereas you might want an official shortening of a 4-syllable name. If it's more a proper diminutive name that you're looking for then I personally wouldn't use Teddy.

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