Theo for a girl?

[HallieHufflepuff]

Hello Mumsnet,

DH& I are TTC and we really like the name Theo for a girl or a boy.
Also thinking Theodore or Theodora on the birth certificate but would mostly refer to them as Theo.

Haven't told anyone that we are TTC, nevermind our baby name thoughts. I am just wondering what people's thoughts are on our name?

What about Thea?

I don’t think Theo works for a girl- Thea is beautiful however

Love Theo for a boy. It isn't a girls name.

I like it.

The Theodora I know goes by Teddy (maybe Teddie idk) which I know is usually a boys name but sounds more feminine than Theo. Love Thea though

No, it's a boy's name. There are lots of little male Theo's around. She would forever be correcting people.

Theodora with Dora as a nn maybe?
Or Thea?

I like it 👍🏻

Thank you for your responses!

@starcocoon & @Whynotnowbaby
Thea is a lovely idea, thank you!

@Oblomov21 Theo is a name for a boy or a girl.
"The name Theo is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "divine gift". " It can be short for Theodora. Glad you like it if we have a boy though.

Thea is a pretty name and one that was on my list of LO had been a girl

@littlemisslozza I have considered Dora too, if that's what they liked. What do you mean by her correcting people? Sorry, just didn't understand that part.

I love it. It can be a girls name (and was a female character in The Haunting of Hill House I believe!)

@HallieHufflepuff Personally I'm not a fan, I like it for a boy. If Theodora for a girl I think I'd shorten it to Thea, I think that's a lovely name for a girl.

I agree she will be forever correcting people who see it written down and assume she's a boy.
I have a friend with a very well known boys name and she used to hate that people were always surprised when she showed up and not a male or when people would phone looking for her and be shocked it was a woman.

Ok, noted that if Theo was a girl, people might assume that she was a boy if they had not met her and only seen her name.

I do like Thea also. Would love to hear more thoughts on this.

The automatic assumption will be that Theo is a boy. Over the phone, on forms (unless M/F also stipulated), when she's born, at school. Honestly, I just think you'll have her correcting people all her life, and you'll be correcting them for the first few years.

I know a girl Theo

I knew a Theodora who went by Theo, it suited her.

I like it. Theo was the name of the female teacher in Ballet Shoes which was set in the ‘30s. I’ve always preferred it to Theo.

@bakingdemon Does the Theo you know struggle with people assuming that she is male ?

Should say I’ve always preferred it to Thea!

I prefer Thea for a girl but in my family if would have been pronounced ‘Feea’ and ‘Feeo’ so be prepared for that if people don’t pronounce their ‘Th’s’

I hate it, but if the full name is Theodora then it doesn't really matter. If she hates it she can easily switch to Thea or Dora or use the full name.

Might also be worth noting that since 1996 (when data is available from) in England and Wales Theo has been an exclusively male name. There hasn't been one year where three or more female Theo's were registered. Theo is #17 for boys.

I work with a Thea and she is lovely. So perhaps I am biased but I really like Thea.

Agree everyone will assume Theo is a boy which isn’t necessarily a problem- my kids friend has a “boy” name and though yes it takes people by surprise that she is a girl she’s fine. And it’s a bit cute tbh

My niece on the other hand has a girl name and a “boy” nn with family. she is 8 and does NOT like anyone at school using it.

I know a couple of adults called Thea. It would be the female version of Theo.

I know women called Alex, Sam and Toni who all manage ok.