Is Ward a nickname for Edward?

[TwoMountains]

Been having a (lighthearted) argument with a friend about baby names and specifically nicknames for Edward.

I said nicknames for Edward are usually Ed / Eddie or maybe Ted / Ned.

She says Ward is a more common nickname for Edward and my examples aren’t used anymore for younger people.

So, who’s right?

Is Ward really a modern up to date nickname for the Edward’s out there?

Ted and Teddy are definitely used for young people now so she's wrong on that. Teddy is in the top 50 in it's own right if I remember correctly. I know 3 under the age of 3.

I love Woody as a nickname but never known a ward.

@miltonj

It's pronounced Ed-wood so no!

yeah, not by everyone. certainly not by me!

Teddy makes me teeth chatter it's so sickly sweet. Certainly popular at the moment though.

@FadoFado go on then, how do you pronounce it?

Looks like I’m right then!

Maybe she was pulling my leg but she really did seem to believe Ward was a normal nickname.

[quote miltonj]@FadoFado go on then, how do you pronounce it? [/quote]
I pronounce the R.

Ed-Wurd.

I like the letter R although realise a lot of English people like to skip over it whenever possible.

@FadoFado fair enough. I like the letter R too. But that isn't how you say Edward. That's like saying you pronounce Graham 'gray-ham' because you like the letter H. You can't just change someone's name. Obviously different countries pronounce names differently, so in that case, it's different.

[quote miltonj]@FadoFado fair enough. I like the letter R too. But that isn't how you say Edward. That's like saying you pronounce Graham 'gray-ham' because you like the letter H. You can't just change someone's name. Obviously different countries pronounce names differently, so in that case, it's different. [/quote]
Some people do pronounce Graham like that though.

Where I come from the R is definitely pronounced. Regional variations aren’t changing someone’s name.

Ugh hope not, sounds awful!

@miltonj accents such as in the south west we would pronounce Edward as Ed-wurd . It’s not wrong ! It’s a regional difference!

[quote miltonj]@FadoFado fair enough. I like the letter R too. But that isn't how you say Edward. That's like saying you pronounce Graham 'gray-ham' because you like the letter H. You can't just change someone's name. Obviously different countries pronounce names differently, so in that case, it's different. [/quote]
It's exactly how lots of people say Edward. Be less provincial.

“The name Ward is a boy's name of English origin meaning "guard, watchman". Until recently Ward was, like Wally, a Cleaver name, but today's parents are seeing it as a cooler nickname for Edward than Eddie, and are also beginning to use it on its own.”

nameberry.com/babyname/Ward

Never heard of Ward being used.
I know two Edwards: one is 16 and goes by ‘’Ed”, and one is 18 and goes by “Ted”, although used to be “Teddy” when he was younger.

I know a few Belgian Wards but it's pronounced more like 'Wart'. Wouldn't be my first choice...

I know a Ward - it is his first name. Think family name. He is now 35.

We have a Ward in our family. His full name was Edward, so it definitely is a 'thing'. It may not be common but it is a nn for Edward.
As for it not being a nn because it isn't how Edward is pronounced, I don't think anyone with Teddy, Bobby, Jack, Tony, to name but a few, would consider that a valid argument against their nn.

@FadoFado ok ok, ya got me, I'll be less provincial going for-wood.

[quote miltonj]@FadoFado ok ok, ya got me, I'll be less provincial going for-wood. [/quote]

ba-doom-tish

NN's for Edward include - Ed, Eddie, Eddo, Ned, Neddy, Ted, Teddy, Woody, Ward, Bear and Iolo - and those are just the ones I have heard of/can think of off the top of my head!

Like Elizabeth, Margaret, Alexander etc, Edward has been in popular use for such a long time that lots of nn's are inevitable. Ward is used but I wouldn't say it is commonplace - the most popular nn for young ones now is Ted/Teddy or Ed for the older generation (20's/30's plus) imo.

Woody is, not Ward, but anything can be I suppose

Woody

Ward is occasionally used as it name of it's own or as a nick name for Howard not Edward.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam how do you get Iolo from Edward?