Ted as a nickname for Theodore

[gingerbreaddragon]

I have a new baby called Theodore who we have nicknamed Ted. Both pairs of grandparents have pulled us aside and asked us why his nickname is Ted as it's not a nickname for Theodore. In their view it'll cause him problems at school and he will be forever explaining that his nickname is Ted, not Theo. We thought it was quite a well established nickname, Teddy Roosevelt etc. So, if you knew a Theodore would them being nicknamed Ted raise an eyebrow? We honestly thought it was quite common and wouldn't be an issue but are questioning ourselves now.

Congratulations on your new baby. Ted is fine as a nn for Theodore.
Your PILs and DP probably want you to call him Theo, possibly because they are of a different generation.
Nobody is wrong but he is your baby not theirs.

We have a Theodore with a nickname of Ted. Nobody looks twice. Although people forget that his full name is Theodore so I do wonder if we should have just called him Ted.

Ted it’s also a nickname for Edward

DS is a Theodore, nicknamed Teddy, Ted, Theo, Mr T, Dory etc. depending on the situation and, on occasion, how daft he's being. Congrats on your little one!!

It’s a fabulous name snd a great nickname! Your baby , your choice!!! Congratulations x

Ted is, in the UK, traditionally a nickname for Edward. In the US it is more common that it's short for Theodore.

I know quite a few Teds. Most are short for Edward but Theodore is just as lovely.

What a lovely name. I immediately thought of Teddy Roosevelt.

Ted is more often Edward I think, but Ted is of course a NN for Theodore. Don’t question yourselves, and enjoy your Ted 🙂

Ted is generally a nickname for Edward

Theo is the natural shortening for Theodore

Theo is the most natural shortening but any nickname would work really

Nicknames can come from anywhere though so it doesn't have to be a derivative of the proper name anyway.

Aside from that, like others have said I immediately thought of Roosevelt when I read your OP. Educate the grandparents!

It's fine! Theo probably more common, Ted more commonly associated with Edward - but it's hardly a great leap. Makes perfect sense as a nickname. No one is going to be confused by it.

Of course Ted is an acceptable diminutive of Theodore. It's fine.

I wanted Theodore for my DS so I could call him Teddy, DH didn't like it but I absolutely love it and it's the natural nickname for me

Ted would be Edward in their generation - very well known for Theodore now.

Only Theodore I know nickname is Teddy, perfectly fine to use Ted

Ted is a great nn for Theodore. Ignore the grandparents. (And there are no rules about nns, just patterns of usage. They may have mostly connected Ted with Edward in the past, but that's just their view. His nn can be Bunny or Tiger if you want - really there are no "rules" about this!) They'll get over it.

Show them Bill and Ted’s excellent adventure.

‘Ted ‘Theodore’ Logan!’

I think if you like Ted then that's fine. I know a Theodore who is known as Teddy.

Teddy (virtually Ted) worked well for American president, Theodore Roosevelt, even though apparently he hated the shortening of Teddy.

We know a Theodore .... he is Ted.