Woody?

[MakeAWhish]

We really like Woody as a able for our baby boy due in July. The kids love the name too. We decided not to tell anyone for fear of negative reaction but my 7 year old told my mum in front of me and her reaction was 'Woody?! That's not even a proper name!' 🙄 It's upset me as I loved it and now I feel silly using it. What do you all think? Our surname starts with W too, I think alliteration is cute but is it too cute? Think, Woody Wilson ..

Are you mad?

Edward nn Woody for as long as he feels happy being 'Woody'.

Woody Harrelson is Woodrow and woody Allen is heywood

@MakeAWhish I also considered Woody OP and would have had Woodrow as the long name. I still like it and whilst the name is open to being made fun of, in my experience it doesn't matter what your name is, if you're a bully's victim you can be named James and they'll twist your name in to something nasty.

It makes me think of Woody from This Is England. I think Edward nn Woody is perfectly fine, gives him all manner of options for when he's older too.

Just seems a bit strange to call a child a name that, when googled, comes up with, in the first few definitions “made of wood” and “errection”.........

“ if you're a bully's victim you can be named James and they'll twist your name in to something nasty.”
You’re right.
But a name that non bullies, just a ordinary nice people, have to make sure they keep a straight face when they hear is even more corrosive over time.

@thinkingcapon you're right - I'm off!

No!! Of course not!

I know an adult Woody but it's a nickname derived from his surname.

I also know a 5yr old Woody. He's officially Edward but he doesn't get called that very often. All his friends/teachers/other parents call him Woody. It totally suits him.

Written anonymously on a forum like this, I can understand people jumping to "erection" but I don't honestly think that if you were introducing your DS people would make the same connections because, y'know, they'd have a small child in front of them?

And anyone who says you can't have a "proper" job if you're named Woody Wilson is lacking in imagination. I think that it's about personality more than anything else so it could be made to be very cool!

I know a 21yo Woody, my DS’s friend. None of his student friends have ever commented negatively. I don’t know about his time at school, but they’d all have been familiar with Woody from Toy Story so wouldn’t have found it a novel name.

If you really want to call him woody just do it as a nickname derived from Edward. It's quite a cheeky sounding nickname but with the other connotations and the fact your surname starts with a W it's a no no as the official name. Although there are names with same letters first and last woody with a W surname does sound silly.

As for a ‘proper’ job, does president of the USA count? maybe not at the moment!

To a PP I know the Harry Potter character was Oliver but he was referred to mostly as ‘Wood,’ and the name Woody does make me think of his character.

Oh OP you’ve had a lot of blunt comments. I would say ignore - it is a cool name and if you love it go for it!

Super cute. I love it.

There's enough of a difference between Woodrow Wilson and Woody Wilson, to make one ok and the other not, although I wouldn't name a child Woodrow, unless I was American and it's popular there.

I know 2. One is 6 and the other 3. I don't like it personally but then many dont like the names we have used. It's all personal preference

I know a 5yo Woody (it's his full name). No one has batted an eyelid at it.
It's a cool name. Woody (Woodrow) Harrelson is pretty cool. I would consider Woodrow a solid and trustworthy name for a solicitor or judge too.
This forum seems to be populated with posters who only like very, very, safe, boring, traditional English names. Foreign and american names bring on lots of pearl clutching and downright bullying.
My sons foundation year has hardly any children named in a 'traditional' manner.

I think your child would hate it, at some point. Zoe Ball might be able to get away with it, but at interview, for normal people?

“This forum seems to be populated with posters who only like very, very, safe, boring, traditional English names.“

Not true. I just don’t like names that mean something like “ erection”! I don’t care for Fanny and Roger for the same sort of reasons...

I know of an Elwood who is shortened to woody

I love the name Woody as short for Edward. I wanted it for DS1, DH said no. I also wanted the name Red (short for Jarred) but he said no to that too...

I know an Edward shortened to woody, I love it as a nickname.

I like it, only one I know is Woody Harrelson x

I just think of Woody Woodpecker and his annoying laugh. But then, I'm old!