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?

She's going to grow into a woman.. Give her a strong name not one that makes her sound like a toy or pet.

If only someone could be the President of the US and still called Teddy?! And have soft toys actually created in his honour...

Admittedly Theodore Roosevelt had the longer version to fall back on but everyone preferred Teddy and he's known in history as Teddy Roosevelt.

Teddy was a fine nickname until it became a Teddy Bear 🧸. So when Theodore Roosevelt was known as Teddy, it was just a name.

Nowadays a Teddy is a stuffed toy. Not only in English but in lots of languages!

Admittedly Theodore Roosevelt had the longer version to fall back on but everyone preferred Teddy and he's known in history as Teddy Roosevelt.

And a hugely powerful and wealthy family. And his only name option wasn’t Teddy.

It’s a cute nickname but is limiting - particularly for a girl. People will make assumptions about a girl called Teddy. Yes I know it’s not fair but it’s true.

Yet another thing Teddy Roosevelt didn’t need to worry about being a man.

Yet another thing Teddy Roosevelt didn’t need to worry about

Teddy was simply a name, not a Teddy Bear 🧸 then!

@comefromaway made my day

Roosevelt hated Teddy too.

I'm going to side with your Mum OP. I strongly dislike Teddy as a name for a boy, nevermind for a girl. I don't really like Teddy as a nickname that much either.

Teddy 🧸 ?!

Would any teenager or adult really want to be called this?

It was on my list but I would have put Theodora on the birth certificate so it wasn't just teddy! In the end, we felt it didn't suit our baby but I do love it!

Isn't Robbie Williams daughter called Teddy - short for Theodora ?

Oops
Already been said

I like it though

I know someone called Minty (short for Araminta I think ) in a v sensible job and no one turns a hair, Teddy is very sweet.

Araminta is a proper name.

Teddy is a plush animal.

I love it and my own DM suggested it and even started calling my unborn child it for a while but DH said no way. I don't think it's the same as calling a girl John or similar as it's a cute name. How about Theodora, nn Teddy?

Roosevelt was more often called Teedie, but I wouldn't recommend that either.

I have an idea that Araminta is a name someone made up for a play. As is Wendy.

On its own it might be seen as weird by others, but if u did Theodora u could do Teddy as a nickname, then they could choose to use Dora if they wanted to later in life
Most importantly follow ur heart, it’s ur baby after all

Listen to your Mum!

Teddy is fine as a nickname but give her options of a ‘sensible’ name and a cutesy name.

I love Teddy for a girl!

It’s amazing how many people on here think that the only respectful job for a woman to have is a judge or doctor, and that’s the only way in which a woman would ever be taken seriously. I also find it interesting that we live in a multicultural society, with many companies in the UK employing people from all over the world, yet some women would judge someone with the name Teddy. How do these people cope with names they’ve never heard of before?! What are YOUR doctors called? Doubt they’re all called Olivia and Harry. Some people might as well be living under a rock.

Your mum is not being unreasonable.

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

Then you are being pretty naive - they may not be bullied for being called Samayah or Suresh, but having a name that reads as either super-posh (like Santa Sebag-Montefiore), or like a coddled baby name may well get them bullied.

I spent years choosing names for the children I hoped to have. The day before my daughter was born I told my sister and she screamed with laughter. Full of hormones and somewhat delirious I switched to the name DH had chosen, forgetting the careful research I had done. Once DD was born and named, I got quite a lot of people laughing in my face, and others behind my back. I remember who laughed and think less of them.

I love Teddy. It does feel like a nickname. Edith, Aideen, or Ursula could all have Teddy as a nickname.

I agree with @Eleanor90 on the bottom of P6

Aside from that, it is just an awful name.
Who wants to be called after a soft toy ?