Changing our Child's name at age 5?

[NorwichDad]

I am after some advice about changing our child's legal name please.

His official first and middle names are Theodore Edward. Since the moment of his birth we have called him Teddy.

This was always our plan as we thought if he wanted to be a brain surgeon, Dr Theodore might be preferable to Dr Teddy. We wanted to give him flexibility, he could be Theo, Theodore, Ted, Teddy, whatever he wanted basically.

At school and nursery he is/was known as Teddy and other than the odd person who doesn't know him well, this is all he's ever been called.

He identifies 100% as Teddy and is very adamant that Teddy is his "Real" name and only occasionally concedes Theodore is his "Long" name, usually only after much discussion. He refuses to learn how to spell or write it.

Whenever i call him Theodore or hear someone call him Theo, it almost physically makes me cringe.

My wife and i have discussed changing his name by deed poll to Teddy to make his life simpler and consolidate his sense of identity however, we're on the fence whether to do it now or leave it up to him when he's older.

What's your thoughts please?

It’s a lovely name and nickname by the way. It reminds me of the original version of Topsy and Tim and the New Baby

I’d leave it.
Teddy Edward sounds ridiculous.

Please leave well alone.

Loads of people are never called by their full first name.

We survive and find it amusing when people realise it is actually a nickname of a first name, a middle name or even a nickname of a middle name.

I've got two nicknames of my first name and one of my sisters' is called by a nickname of her middle name. While I don't use my nicknames professionally my sister does.

I wouldn't. He might change his mind when he is older. It's fine for him to be known as Teddy and you can tell the school that he should be known as Teddy, but I think you should keep his formal name for now as it gives him options for later

So you’ve got a Teddy Teddy? Please say your surname starts with D so he is TED as well...

I agree that changing his legal name is going to end up being a major ballache in the future for legal things; why on earth would you change it when he can just be ‘known as’ Teddy? What happens if he gets to teenage years and wants to be known as DJ Tedz?

Also, my DB was Teddy (short for Edward) until he was 8, then one day just came home from school and said he hated Teddy and never wanted to be called it again. He was Edward from then on.

It won't make things easier - he will constantly have to deal with the fact that his new official name does not match his birth certificate. You can't change his birth certificate.

At 9/ 13 / 17 / 21 he may feel very differently about Teddy. And especially having it on his teenage passport, his GCSE certificates etc.

Especially Teddy Edward.

He doesn't have to be able to write Theodore at 5.

Calm down.

Also to add my DH has a name that is commonly used as a nickname He was OK about it as a child because it does sound like a name for a little boy. But as soon as he became a teenager he hated it and still does and wishes his parents had called him a 'real name'

Had I changed my kids names to consolidate their identity one would be called Elvis, after the character from Fireman Sam that he inhabited for 4 years, and one would be called Buzz (lightyear).

My niece was called by a shortened name from the time she was born, wouldn't listen if someone used her full name. She got to 7 years old and now it's the opposite. Corrects people if they use the shortened version, even now, two years later.

I'd leave him with the choice.

And why are you going on at him, making him 'concede' 'after long discussion' that his official name is Theodore? When you call him a nickname you love? Leave him alone, he is 5 years old!

I had my first two children before the internet became mainstream, one more recently.

I think, post-internet, it is very useful to have an everyday name that is different from your long, official name. So much so that I would always give DC a long name/shortening combo now. It gives you a degree of privacy.

@TheRedBarrows my son would be Kylo

Leave it.

All you need to do is insist on Teddy.

My nephew is known by his third name (in other words, he’s X Y Z Surname, known as Z). He doesn’t get called X, ever.

Leave it. I would put money on him wanting to be Theo when he hits secondary school!

When he is a brain surgeon he can go by Edward if he wants just leave the boys name alone.

Don't do it. My ds has a double barrell first name and is known by the second part. He knows his full name and can write it but prefers second half. It's not an issue. Honestly can't see a 19+ year old or even younger wanting to be called teddy. Might be wrong but can't see it.

Why cant he be called Teddy if he does become a Doctor or whatever ?. there is a TV doc called Dr Pixie Mckenna ,(real name Bernadette) and it obviously hasnt held her back has it?

I have a commonly used abbreviation of my first name (Betty is nothing like Elizabeth) but it's never been an issue my whole life

in fact it's somewhat useful as an adult - if I answer the phone and someone asks for 'Elizabeth' I know it's nobody I want to talk to

Another vote for 100% leave it. Far too early to make that decision. And regardless of what his full name is, he can asked to be called whatever abbreviation he likes when he's older. I like Teddy and also really like Theo, which I'm betting he ends up being called when in secondary school. He has lots of option with his current name which is great.

There’s a surgeon on Greys Anatomy called Teddy, but she’s female...

Leave it as it is. Teddy Teddy would be really silly- especially for a brain surgeon!

Teddy Edward is a no no. (If you remember the cartoon in the 70s)

^^ I think the child is 5 yo and is already Teddy Teddy Edward

OP if you're going to do a deed poll you might want to address that instead.

He"ll be Teddy Edward which is a book character. So no!