Too similar?

[Isbobmyuncle]

Evening 😊

My brother and his wife have a little boy called Theo (not short for anything). I’m pregnant at the moment and we like Theodora for a girl. We’d use Teddy as her nickname. Too similar to Theo or worrying unnecessarily?

Thanks 👍🏼

I personally wouldn’t as think it’s too similar.

So what if it's similar? You like it, use it!

You can't call your daughter the female version of your nephews name? Imagine how you would feel if a close relative used your child's name 🤔

Really wouldn’t bother me enough to not use it but the convection will be referenced for ever, as long as you don’t mind that

I think it's fine as long as you're using Teddy when they're together.

Teddy and Theo are not that similar.

Is it Theodora or Teddy that you like? So we can suggest similar stuff

I wouldn’t

Dorothea?

I wouldn't! Too similar.

My sil wanted to name her child a name that was similar to my daughter. Think Milly and Tilly. It was too similar and I told her that!

It would be really poor etiquette to use Theodora in my opinion. Out of all the other names in the universe - pick another. Unless there's some huge backstory about it being the name of another deceased sibling or something with huge emotional significance to both you and your brother.

I would use it. Theodora is a lovely name, and Theo is completely different. Do bear in mind, though, that she won't be known as Teddy at school. She'll be Theo or Dora or T or, if my DC are anything to go by, Bobble, Bunny (which are not related to their names) etc, etc, etc.

I really like the name and the nickname Teddy- so cute! Could you spell it slightly differently. Like for example, Theadora as it will take the ‘Theo’ out of the name completely. It depends how you pronounce the name as I say it with a soft ‘o’ like an ‘Uh’ sound instead.

Or could you ask your brother and SIL their thoughts if you are really concerned about upsetting them.

You can't call your daughter the female version of your nephews name? Imagine how you would feel if a close relative used your child's name 🤔

I really don't understand what the problem would be.

I would never do this and I would have been upset if a sibling had done so. I wouldn't have minded with a friend.
How about Dorothea? Which is similar but had a different feel. I think you could still use Teddy if you wanted to.

It’s the sAme name with Dora on the end.

I don't see the problem. If you want similar suggestions that you might like then - Leonora?

I have a cousin with the male version of my name. Two other cousins share the same name as each other (same surname too).

I

My neighbour and her sister did this and both babies were born within several months of each other.
I once knew someone who actually used the male and female versions with her own children,which I always thought was strange.

As pp suggest, Leonora instead? Theo and Theodora are really close especially if they are a fairly similar age and will likely see each other often. But I suppose if you always call her Teddy then its unlikely most people will make the connection. However bear in mind that as she gets older she could insist on her full name or even want to use the nn Thea.

Too close for siblings but for cousins it's absolutely fine.

@PaolaDiLorenzo yeah I know someone with kids called Alan and Alana, very strange

@Katefoster it's not very imaginative is it ? When they are so many names to pick from .

I personally think it’s too similar, but I’d talk to your brother about it and see his opinion as that’s the one that really matters

Thanks all - I thought it might split opinions. I’m still not sure how I feel but that’s probably an answer in itself!

Is it the nickname Teddy you like most, or is it Theodora? If the former, I would use another name and still nickname her Teddy. Nicknames don't have to derive from a longer name, so you could call her literally anything and still use Teddy as a family nickname.

I wouldn't do it.
So many names and you're choosing the female version of the name they just chose.

I can't believe people think it's ok.