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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Baby boy nickname confusion

16 replies

catmommy · 09/02/2022 15:14

Ok, so me and my husband had our beautiful baby boy last year. When it came to baby names we found it impossible to settle on a girls name that we both liked, but when it came to boys, we agreed first time. Lucky really!

And so Edward was born. At the time we discussed calling him Teddy as an affectionate nickname. However my husband has now decided he doesn't like Teddy and has taken to shortening it even further to Ted. This has caught on with some of the family too. To me he will always be Teddy (at least until he's old enough to think it's babyish) but I really want him to identify with his formal name too.

My question is, how do I stop all these names from becoming really confusing for the poor boy?? Am I going to have to back down and agree to use the shortened nickname to make it easier for him? (my husband is not going to back down). Or, will he grow up simply understanding that he has different names according to different people?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

bloominglovelyorange · 09/02/2022 15:19

When he starts school or nursery they will ask what you want his nickname to be (if any) so you have some control then.

OrangeAndYellowAndBlue · 09/02/2022 15:19

He will definitely be fine with it and not find it confusing! It's really normal for kids to be called different pet names by different people.

Some babies are raised bilingual or trilingual! Their brains are amazing at this age and they can figure this stuff out.

TatianaBis · 09/02/2022 15:20

Edward, Ted and Teddy is fine. It’s hardly rocket science even for a baby.

Rosieposie101 · 09/02/2022 17:01

My kids all have 2 or 3 nicknames in English and another 2 in another language (their dad's language). They're not at all confused and answer to everything!

Kidsfortea · 09/02/2022 17:13

My sons name is Joseph. He has always been joe. Now he is an adult he uses his full name for work but is always known as the shortened version elsewhere. Your son will decide himself what he wants to be called.

NeverHadANickname · 09/02/2022 17:17

My 2 year old gets called about a dozen different versions of his name and nicknames (not exaggerating) and he responds to them all just fine, no confusion. He also does the same to our dog so knows real names and how to play around with them for nicknames.

bumbledeedum · 09/02/2022 17:20

I think you're massively overthinking this, my eldest has his full name, shortened version and half a dozen nicknames (one of which he's now adopted for his comforter), he answers to all of them and still knows what his actual name is.

Fivebeanchilli · 09/02/2022 17:20

My children have pretty much never been called by their real names by anyone in the wider family (or us). They have a variety of nicknames, unrelated to their real names.
At nursery/school etc they were always called by their full names.
They never got confused! Don't worry about it.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 09/02/2022 17:23

My toddler used to happily reply to various names in two languages, and still responds to Squidgy McGorgeous . You’ll be fine.

BunnyRuddington · 09/02/2022 17:29

My DD has a long name and at least 2 NNs. It's never, ever been an issue. She's answers to all of them from a young age. Like a PP said, it's fairly normal for a child to have different pet names with different people.

I really wouldn't worry

KateLumley · 09/02/2022 17:30

This is why I find it weird that people plan nicknames, in my family they just evolve and are not always related to their actual name. Also, with hindsight, never pick a name if you don't like any of the derivatives as at some point they will be call it.

LlamaLucy · 09/02/2022 17:58

Ted vs Teddy won’t confuse him. Don’t worry, his teachers will ask ‘what would you like to be called,’ and he can tell them, too.

Original poster

catmommy · 09/02/2022 18:03

Thanks everyone.... Can anyone tell I'm a bit of an overthinker?! Haha. The main thing for me is that he's able to choose for himself when he's bigger as someone mentioned in their comment. Thanks for your input! :)

OP posts:

Original poster

catmommy · 09/02/2022 18:08

@TheWayTheLightFalls

My toddler used to happily reply to various names in two languages, and still responds to Squidgy McGorgeous

. You’ll be fine.

Squidgy McGorgeous! Oh my god I love it so much.

OP posts:

Hellocatshome · 09/02/2022 18:13

He will not be confused, both my DS's have about 4 versions of their names used by various different family members and always understood they were all their names. You ill have some control by being able to write their "known as" names on the school forms but then you can't control what he tells people his name is. One of mine went by one name at primary school but decided to introduce himself as another more grown up version when he started secondary.

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/02/2022 18:32

He’s not going to be confused, nns are common, and Ted/dy is usually for Edward or Theodore - people will likely ask him which. He can change it later if he wants.

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