Teddy as a standalone?

[Marrilou]

Hi would appreciate people's opinions on this; I posted on here about my previous son's name and some of the comments really helped me make my mind up! I'm currently pregnant with what I'm pretty sure is another son. I love the name Teddy, it's currently my favourite boy's name, but I'm not sure whether to have it as a standalone or short for Edward? I don't love the name Edward but am just wondering if it'll give him more versatility with his name as he gets older. I know Teddy can be short for other names such as Theodore, but Edward is the one I like most, albeit not all that much. Would you go just for Teddy or make Teddy a nickname for Edward?

Almost everyone on here will say they don't like Teddy as a stand alone name and to have a longer name on birth certificate.

But my DS is called Teddy and that is what's on his bc, we loved the name Teddy but none of the names it can be a nn for e.g. Edward, Theodore etc. Its definitely quite popular but that means it won't be unusual for teenagers/adults to be called Teddy in that generation and he can shorten it to Ted.

It's cute for a baby, but an adult Teddy? No!

Definitely give him a proper name.

I generally prefer the full, traditional name but in this case I’d put Ted on the BC and call him Teddy day-to-day.

I really hate it and consider it a bit chavvy.

Look up “teddy blue” on Munsnet!

This is mumsnet, where even the name Katie would be frowned upon for not being a "proper name"

Call your child a name you like.

@DappledThings

Definitely give him a proper name.

Completely agree. Teddy is cute for a baby but not so great for a middle aged man in a job interview.

if you are only ever going to call him Teddy, why put a different name on the BC.
I don't like Theodore at all, and I 'm not keen on Teddy, but he's not my baby.

I know a real Teddy who is about 10.

You could have Theodore and call him Teddy?

You could have Teddy short for Tediham

Just no. Teddy is a baby name and only fit for a cute bear.

Shortenings are fine (if I had a boy I'd love to call him Tom).

But Teddy is dreadful.

There's a fair few Teddys knocking around here, as far as I'm aware they're all Teddy on their bc

If you like Teddy, have Teddy. No need to make up a Tediham/Teddington/Tedbert name just to have a longer name for the BC.

Give the kid a chance at school? If you call him Teddy he is going to have to live with that through some t

I know a 'Ted' who is in his 30's! Really suits him. I love it.

Cont .

Tough times. If you give him a more default name and call him Teddy, at least he has the choice when the time comes.

He will be Ted by the time he is in high school anyway and no one will know if he is Teddy, Edward or Theodore. My bosses boss is just Ted and I have no idea what his full name is! Never thought about it tbh.

I do prefer Edward nn Teddy but if you don’t like it I think Teddy is fine.

@LadyMonicaBaddingham, Tediham is pronounced Tedium.

Mumsnet can be a lovely place to get opinions/ support but sometimes it can be a dark one. What is wrong with people? The OP has openly said she loves the name teddy and is asking to use a longer name or just that, they are not asking for your opinions on the name teddy. It is just plain rude ! It’s a good job we are all different otherwise this place would be a boring one! if you love the name teddy and he will always be called that I agree to use that on bc :) congratulations 🥳

I used to teach a Tommy who found his name absolutely mortifyingly babyish once he reached secondary school. He had a summer birthday so he couldn’t get a deed poll to change it to Tom and had to have GCSE certificates in the name he hated. I remember him so clearly.

Edward or Ted on the BC, Teddy for day-to-day.

I’m not keen on the name Teddy. To me it only sounds suitable for a very young child. I would go with Edward or Theodore so he could have the option of picking a more grown up sounding name when he gets older if he wants.

Would you like to be a 45year old man called teddy? Give him more options. It's babyish for a grown up.

I know a child that is TEddy, but tobehonest I am not keen. Much prefer Edward or Theodore.

People on MN often say ‘imagine a grown up Teddy, poor bloke’

And I always think of my uncle Teddy, in his 60s, strong bloke likes a pint and going down the pub. Good job, three kids and a wife he loves. He’s literally never had a moments problem or embarrassment!

That said I prefer longer names on BC for options not because Teddy is bad but because it’s nice to be able to reinvent yourself in different situations.

I’m Katie here, Kat to my uni friends, Katherine to my parents and Kate at work... it’s nice!

—Katherine might not actually be my name but you get the point I hope—