Theodore

[NatMoz]

Really struggling for boy names for our first born child. We won't find out the gender until birth. The name also has to be Eastern European due to my heritage.

The names we are considering is Theodore- no idea if this is a popular name in UK, I've only met one who was 50+ (and Ukrainian). Our other option is Alexander although I'm wondering if I'm being a loser as our favourite girl name is Alexandra!

Another name I did like was Maksym but I'm worried people would associate it with the horrible porn lad mag, the evil husband in Rebecca and also assume we have spelt it that way to be 'trendy' (it's the Ukrainian spelling).

Other names I liked but have been vetoed by husband are Daniel, Stefan, Roman, Michael and I'd also like the name to be easily translatable in both languages. Andrew/Andrei is out, way too many in our family.

If anyone has any other suggestions that would be great.

Theodore shortened to Theo is quite popular but not crazy popular like Harry for example (in my experience).

Theo is very very popular where I am (SW England). Doesn't mean you shouldn't use it though- if names are popular it means people like them! I personally prefer Alexander but if Alexandra is your favourite girl's name it makes sense to keep that in reserve. I'm not sure on Maksym - presumably it would shorten to Max (?), which works well in the UK.

Theodore is usually shortened to Teddy or Theo in the UK and I've know quite a few but it isn't really common. I think it's a lovely name, although I wonder how many stay as Teddy once they're past early childhood.

Theodore is lovely.

Alexander, I'd keep it in reserve in case you have a girl.

Maxsym is fine, he'll probably be known as Max to everyone anyway.

Theo is overused imo. I think it will soon sound dated.

I would also avoid Alexander in case you have a girl next.

Maksym is nice.

Theo is incredibly popular where I live. It's a nice name though.

Theodore and Theo are very popular in the UK.
He will be Theo X.

Alexander is popular, but is usually Alex or Xander.

Theo was number 16 in the ONS 2019 baby names, Theodore was 18. Both very popular names and I know several of each under the age of 10.

I love Theo, works well on a little one and an adult. It’s quite popular, there are a couple in my DS’s school so it won’t seem unusual.

DH is Theo and not very popular where we are (Ireland). It is a lovely name for a young child and an adult. Maksym is lovely as well.

Theodore is reasonably popular in London.
The Russian equivalent is Fedya, as in Dostoyevsky's first name.
As you might know, and also again in Russia, Alexander and Alexandra get shorted to Sasha, a unisex name. But in the Uk, the name Sasha seems to be just for the girls.

It's my grandson's name but he is known as Ted which I much prefer to Theodore if I'm honest.

We must have similar tastes! DD is Alexa - would have been Alexander if a boy. DS is Theodore. We always loved Theodore but had a bit of a wobble as it is very popular, as is Theo. We went with it and I’m really pleased, as I’ve only come across 1 in our local network!

Other names on our list were Benedict, Nathaniel, Felix, Jasper, Otto and Matthias, but when he was born he was an absolute Teddy in every way

I love Theodore and, as pp's have said, it's a name which works equally well for a child as for an adult. As for the popularity of the name, posters of children with popular names who have posted on other threads have said that they're never met another child with the popular name so it does depend on where you live.

Adam?

It's great to hear so many different perspectives and no name will ever please everyone!

I've read the comments to my husband who didn't realise Teddy was a variant, he likes it even more now!

If it's a girl then Alexandra with pet name Sasha will most likely happen. I have about 4 pet names with my name, it's similar to Elizabeth in the sense there are so many nicknames!

Of 8 babies I know born this year, 5 are Theodore/Theo/Teddy. It’s extremely popular.

There are Theo's and Thea's everywhere here.

If you don't care about current trendyness/popularity in the UK then Theodore is fine - there may well be another Theodore, Theo or Ted/dy in his class if you are based here, but at least he'll have options to what name/nn he uses if there is another.

Adore Alexander- so classic, timeless, and international with loads of nn options, but I understand your hesitancy if you want to save Alexandra for a girl.

Maksym is gorgeous imo - but yes, it may be misspelt as Maxim is better known. But the Rebecca and lads mag thing wouldn't worry me and I don't think anyone will think it's a trendy spelling - it clearly looks Eastern European to me.

If you considered Michael, them maybe Samuel?

Love the name Theodore.. popular but for a reason x

If you are not having any more after this one then I’d go with Alexander but Theodore is a fine name.

Theodore is a great name!

I think we have similar tastes - I have an Alexandra, my sons middle name is Theodore and I’m a big fan of names with multiple shortening/pet name options.
I don’t know how they’d work for your Eastern European connection, but other names I considered for my son were Christopher, Thomas, and Johnathan.

Theodore is lovely but very popular. I know four born recently and I'm always surprised it's not the most popular name in ONS.