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Original poster

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

210 replies

lucie8881 · 05/03/2020 11:45

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?

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MrsP2015 · 08/03/2020 21:55

Oh hun if you HAVE TO use it I'd have as a nick name or a middle name (so she doesn't have to tell people it).

I think Teddy is out there for a boy but you just couldn't name a girl it.

NotNowPlzz · 08/03/2020 21:59

Edwina
Theodoria
Theodosia
Tedra

LisaSimpsonsbff · 08/03/2020 22:10

I always wonder how many of the 'omg they'll never succeed with a name like that!' crowd have actually ever been in high-powered environments rather than just seeing them on TV? I know a Teddy who went to Oxford and is now a barrister, so it doesn't seem that the inevitable rejection from polite society happened to him...

idontwanttogoooooooooooo · 08/03/2020 22:23

I like it for a boy, can shorten to Ted, which I like even more !

What about Edie / Edith ? Very trendy now.

I don't flinch at any baby names really( and I'm over 35) as each to their own, but I do think there are girls and boys names, and proper names and cute baby nicknames.

DeadButDelicious · 08/03/2020 22:24

I think as a nick name, short for Theodora etc then it's fine. Quite sweet actually and she'd have options then when she's older. I certainly don't think it's awful, but as her actual, official, on the birth certificate name? No, I wouldn't do that.

All that said, I understand where you're coming from a little bit. I really wanted to call my daughter Wednesday, it would of matched beautifully with the middle name we chose for her (which she did end up with). Some days I wish I had stuck to my guns because she is such a Wednesday, it really does suit her. But then I think that she's already got a spooky mum so giving her a 'spooky' name too may well have been a step too far. Grin

RedDiamond · 08/03/2020 22:27

All I hope is that as little Teddy grows older, she has enough support from her parents and siblings to become a confident and resilient young woman

The sad thing is though, that you may not be enough. Nuture, not nature you are relying on. Nature at school is nasty, because little people have not learnt how to control themselves and your daughter will become the scapegoat for the many.

What if your beautiful Teddy grows up to be an anxious child? You cannot fight nature, you are already putting up a fight against it and for what? For your pleasure, for your right to name your child what you wish. Have you thought out the problems if her name does not suit her personality.

I think Theodora is an absolutely beautiful name. Put that on her birth certificate and give HER the option of being able to use it if she so wishes. Her name has to live with her all her life.

Twelve8Ts · 09/03/2020 04:01

People telling you that your child may be anxious. Won’t get a good job etc, come on.
In 20 years time when this child starts work, do you think offices are going to be full of Linda, Janets and Johns? What about Hunter, Arlo, Luna, Aria, Wren? Are they all going to be standing anxiously in the corner of the job centre? Times have changed.

If the child getting bullied at School is called Teddy, then what’s the bully called?

Toomanygerbils · 09/03/2020 04:07

Greys anatomy name of a female surgeon Teddy :)

Sprigware · 09/03/2020 04:56

I’m an older mother. My seven year old has a name so unusual it didn’t appear as a number on the statistics for his year of birth. He was born in London, and my NCT group produced babies with names that would have caused enormous controversy on Mn.

I don’t think Teddy is at all ‘out there’, I think it’s twee.

Notajogger · 09/03/2020 05:26

Maybe as a nickname (even then, definitely thought of generally as a boys name) but definitely not on the birth certificate.

KateF · 09/03/2020 20:11

I work in a nursery and have looked after Billie, Bobbie, Teddie, Harrie and Frankie-all girls! Most people won't even blink at a girl called Teddie.

Fanciedachange1 · 10/03/2020 15:49

Theodora and your nickname for her could be Teddy. That’s cute for a little one!

She could be known as Thea or something like that? i think that is a name that could get you through childhood and as an adult too.

notalwaysalondoner · 10/03/2020 15:59

I think it’s cute, but I am the kind of person that would always give a “proper” name on the birth certificate - I’m a bit traditional. If it doesn’t bother you then go for it. I certainly don’t think it is “out there” enough that kids would tease her for it.

I know a small female Teddy (but has a longer name on her birth certificate) and it doesn’t strike me as strange at all, I actually think it’s a sweet name.

Camsie30 · 10/03/2020 16:01

I know two girls called Teddy/Teddie. It's lovely. Ignore everyone else, it's your child!

dialmformarzipan · 19/03/2020 21:04

I'm well over 35, and think it's lovely. I agree with other posters, Theodora for BC/long version, and would be happy if my son and his wife told me they'd chosen this name for their Autumn 2020 baby.

CatRamsey · 20/03/2020 13:22

It's not my style but it's not a bad choice. Stick with it if it's what you love.
Perhaps it's worth considering longer versions like Theodora or even just Thea? Maybe a different T name with a D middle name to make her initials T.D - that could be a cute way to get to Teddy as a nn!

Your DM is being very disrespectful to say she wouldn't call your daughter by her name just because she doesn't like it.

Also don't forget, once baby is born people will grow to love the name as she grows into it. It won't just be a name anymore, it'll be her name.

Best of luck :)

Vinylsamso · 20/03/2020 13:29

🙈 one poster said if you’re over 35 you’re out of touch!

Jesus! 38 here and feeling very old now 😂

MoonlightMistletoe · 20/03/2020 13:40

I love it OP

s3tut0y3r · 21/03/2020 18:59

Theodora is a nice name. She could then choose if she wanted to be Teddy. What about Hedy?

Margotmonde · 21/03/2020 19:11

You need to use a proper first name with the nickname Teddy

OnlyTheLangoftheTitBerg · 01/04/2020 09:06

Whoever said “fine for a baby, not so great for a civil servant” obviously hasn’t spent any time in the actual Civil Service! The world has moved on - I work with a Willow, a Sindi and a Bobbie just in my office alone. The only thing we care about is a) are they good at their job and b) do they pay their milk fund money on time? Our recruitment process is also anonymised - presumably to avoid narrow-minded judgements like some of those articulated above.

Once you meet a person then their name just becomes that person to you, and anyone negatively judging the person purely on their name is the problem, not the name. It’s not as if the OP is suggesting she call her baby Caravan or Myra-Adolf.

bluemoon2468 · 06/04/2020 22:19

You liken it to Charlie, Billie and Bobby as girl's names - all fine as nicknames but again a little hard to use any as a serious name when going into a job interview. Much better for a child to have the option of applying for a job as Charlotte, Roberta etc.

I think some of the replies have been harsh, but as someone who has what I consider to be a bit of a silly, unusual-for-the-sake-of-it sort of name, I would avoid giving any child a nickname as a name without a more classic name to back it up. Theodora nn Teddy is fine, but give her the choice. I feel a bit silly every time I introduce myself and it's a hell of a lifelong burden!

FizzyGreenWater · 07/04/2020 16:40

Well it's not great, it sounds like a daft nickname and there's nowhere you can go with it - Theodora nn Teddy fine, just giving her Teddy and nothing else seems a bit depressing.

BUT - it's your choice, and my answer to your DM saying that she would reject a name choice she hated and 'use the middle name' would be 'This is our child; if you aren't able to respect the parents' choice of names, you won't be seeing the child anyway, so no need to plan what name you'd be using in that scenario.'

pooopypants · 07/04/2020 16:44

My neighbour's dog is called Teddy Hmm

Seriously, it's not a name for a human.

MayMiracle · 07/04/2020 16:49

May have been mentioned up thread, but Robbie Williams daughter is Theodora nn. Teddy

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