Teddy for a girl, is it really that controversial??

[lucie8881]

Now I'm not overly swayed by others opinions because when it comes to names as we all have our preferences. Whether you love or loathe a name depends a lot on your own personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. I've always gone along with if you're happy with your choice and it's not offensive pretty much all's good.

I'm pregnant with a little girl due in June, myself and DH have been pondering names and on our shortlist is the name Teddy. We'll pick a middle name as well but haven't really given much consideration to that as yet. I was speaking with my DM and she asked me about names, I mentioned a few before getting to Teddy, at which point she was horrified!
Not just "I'm not keen" but more along the lines of "you can't name a baby that, it's not a proper name" and we're being cruel and opening up the child to being bullied at school. The conversation ended with DM saying if we used the name she wouldn't be using it, she would use the baby's middle name or something else more appropriate. I responded with its best we don't discuss names any further and leave it at that.

Sorry about the ramble, but I'm not sure whether I'm missing something?? I get that it may be not to everyone's taste but is it really that offensive?

It's made me question my judgement a little so just wondering what others opinions are?

Billie Eilish, Billie Fairs, Billie Piper, hardly a name that is so embarrassing you can't get on in life, is it?

Mind you, I don't know how Taylor Swift has the cheek to appear on stage, what with her parents' surname/boyish name choice. Clearly held her back.

Taylor is from the US thought. Taylor is a popualar girls name there. Not so much in the UK but I still wouldn't put it in the same category as Teddy.

It is sexy lingerie to me as well, so not quite the same as Charlie, Bobby etc a bit more like calling your child Panty but, ugh, more lacy.

I would like to think I have the maturity to get used to it if I met a female a Teddy face-to-face without mentioning this. I know a few toddler boy Teddies and don’t think of underwear when I see them.

we live in an urban, diverse area. The schools are large and populated with children from many different backgrounds and cultures. The thought of a child being bullied solely on their name has never been a major concern.

Your daughter will not always be a child. She many not always live in such an area. A name that is "cute" in a child may be a burden on an adult. Just because you've given little thought to the corporate world doesn't mean it will never be relevant to your child. Your DD is far more likely to work in a conservative business environment than be a pop star

She might get really fed up of people asking her what it’s short for as she gets older. Also when she’s a teen will have to navigate sharing a name with a piece of lacy underwear

Just call her Theodora and have Teddy as the nickname. Everyone happy.

Wonder if everyone hates Teddy or Ted on boys...?

Billie Faiers and Billie Piper are stage names. Their real names are Samantha and Leian that they’ve taken on. Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift are not in the UK, and names have a different feel. All are celebrities in popular culture.

@daisypond you’re wrong here

Billie Faiers is her real name- it’s her sister that’s called Samantha!! 😂

Billie Piper has been called Billie since she was 3 weeks old so definitely not a stage name! Her parents officially registered the name Billie when she was 3 weeks old. She was called Leian for 3 weeks

"It is the same as Charlie, Billy and Bobby. The same issue exists with those names - fine for a child or a chosen nickname."

So are Billie, Bobby and Charlie blacklisted too?!! ....... gosh, my shortlist is indeed getting shorter!

Do kids still call a teddy bear a 🧸 teddy?

@Whatsyourflava - yes, quite right. I’m wrong re Billie Faiers!

Yes, kids still call teddy bears teddies.

I think Teddy is a lovely name for a girl. It’s very cool and pretty.

Teddy is a lovely nick name. Make sure you actually name her Theodora or Edwina though as suggested upthread, so she has a 'proper' name to fall back on as an adult.

It’s not a question of “the world not being ready for a female Teddy”, which makes it sound like a brilliant, innovative idea whose time has not yet come.
It’s not, it’s just plain silly.

The lingerie connection kills it for me I'm afraid.

Plus I have to agree with the 'cute for a kid, less cute for a civil servant' sentiment. Sorry.

Fine. Its the wife of a main character in a series of detective novels I read. Think it's short for Theodora. It's much much nicer than the frumpy Thea that people are into now.

Bobby and Charlie are surely quite unusual choices for a girl?

Wonder if everyone hates Teddy or Ted on boys...? As a stand-alone name, yes absolutely hate it on boys. It’s never popular when people ask on here. If it’s short for Edward or Theodore then it’s a different thing.
One of the Teddies I know is really an Edward and though he was announced as Teddy I’ve noticed that since he was about 18 months old they’ve quietly dropped the nickname and he’s only ever referred to as Ted now. I’m guessing the cutesy name lost its appeal..

YABU imagine being 13 with that name.

I know at the moment you're thinking of a cute baby.

But she has to live with it.

I don’t like it as full name for either a boy or a girl. Fine as a nickname.

As a full name I would say no. Being an adult woman called Teddy seems like kind of a lot. Having to have the conversation "Yes I'm a woman called Teddy" would probably get old real fast for her.

Theodora with Teddy as a nickname seems nice. Or Theodosia, if you're a Hamilton fan. But as far as I'm aware, even when Teddy is used as a boys name, it's a nickname.

I think it's a great name and perfect if it's short for Theodora. That way she has options. It's not a cruel or silly name at all. If everyone was called Olivia or Charlotte, the world would be pretty boring. Ignore the haters OP!

I think it’s a pretty cool name, actually, and much prefer it to some of the names that seem to be super popular on MN.

I like it a lot!

Loads of kids are called Rocco... Is that going to stop them getting a job? I doubt it very much.

Sindy is a toy, I know 2 of those, one is a fully functioning adult, with a job and a family.

One of my name choices was unusual ... I got told to find a 'fu##ing
proper name' by ex MIL.

I also liked Teddy for a boy thinking they can change it to Ted when they were teens as that's cool.

There are a lot of silly comments on this thread.

I know a Loki, Luca, Samuela. My son has an unusual name, the only one called it in his school.

This kind of babified name just seems to play to the idea that girls should be small, sweet, cute, adorable, etc. etc.

Totally agree with this.

I love it but do think it needs a full name with Teddy as a nickname. Not keen on Theodora or Edwina....but if Edwina works then could Edith work? Teddy and Edie are both adorable nicknames.