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

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

Baby names

Ed, Ted or Fred?

39 replies

dahliasandgin · 11/10/2022 15:36

We like Edward and Frederick- struggling to choose between the two.

Of all the nickname options across both names, Ted is my favourite. DH is not so keen though and much prefers Ed (which I do also like). We both like Fred but not as much as Ted/Ed.

Any preferences?

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sjxoxo · 11/10/2022 15:38

I love Ted 🥰 I like Frederick but I think it will always be just Fred! X

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mackthepony · 11/10/2022 15:39

Edward

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Lilacsunflowers · 11/10/2022 15:46

Frederick is lovely.

I don't like Edward or Tedward.

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SummaLuvin · 11/10/2022 15:55

I'm not a fan of Frederick. Can't really pinpoint why, other than I hear it my head in the same voice that Moaning Myrtle (film version) says 'Cedric' and it's entirely unappealing. Also, while you could try and use Ed and Ted as diminutives here, they aren't as common and natural as they are for Edward, so I would use that as a neutral deciding factor.

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HeadlessGummyBears · 11/10/2022 16:00

Both are lovely. I like Ted as a nn for Edward. It also reminds me of Ted Hughes!

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Midwinterblues · 11/10/2022 16:40

I have a Ted (Edward) and still love it (he’s 19). Love Frederick and Fred too though, never was keen on Ed, don’t know why…

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Mumsnut · 11/10/2022 16:42

Ned!

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StillNotWarm · 11/10/2022 17:06

Edward, then see how Ed and Ted feel as you use them both. I like Ted.

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tortiecat · 11/10/2022 17:14

Lilacsunflowers · 11/10/2022 15:46

Frederick is lovely.

I don't like Edward or Tedward.

Tedward?!

I like both but if you like Ted and DH likes Ed go for Edward and each call him what you like x

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S25 · 11/10/2022 17:41

I love Frederick!

Ted is an adorable nn for Edward though! But he might not even want a nn as he grows so pick the full name that you like the most and try not to focus on a nn they might never even have.

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Lilacsunflowers · 11/10/2022 17:44

How do you get Ted from Edward? I can see Ed or Eddie as natural nicknames.

Thaddeus or Theodore are sometimes shortened to Ted?

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Opihr · 11/10/2022 17:46

Edward, nickname Ed is my favourite option.

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caitlinrose · 11/10/2022 17:46

Edward.

Teddy while he's young and later he can switch to Ed.

Frederick is fine too but not really into Fred.

I'd avoid Ted because I think of Ted Bundy and the terrible Ted-movies with that vulgar teddy bear :(

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CactusPricks · 11/10/2022 17:54

Ted

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PinkSyCo · 11/10/2022 18:04

Ted, short for Edward is my favourite.

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Sago1 · 11/10/2022 18:08

Our son is Edward to us, Ted to some friends and Eddie to his siblings.
He refers to himself as Ed.
Its a great name.

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SweetSenorita · 11/10/2022 18:09

Freddy 🥰 My favourite for a boy.

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ijustdontknow1 · 11/10/2022 18:13

Love Edward!

I have an 5 month old Edward who goes by Ed or Eddie and sometimes even Ted 🥰

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GlassDeli · 11/10/2022 19:16

Fred

2. Ed
3. Ted

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Mumoftwoinprimary · 11/10/2022 19:28

How do you and your husband rate Fred vs you least favourite of Ed and Fred?

Are you Ted, Fred, Ed and him Ed, Fred, Ted or does one of you prefer the other one’s Edward shortening to Fred?

@Lilacsunflowers I have just googled “why is Ted short for Edward” and found this:-

The name Ted is yet another result of the Old English tradition of letter swapping. Since there were a limited number of first names in the Middle Ages, letter swapping allowed people to differentiate between people with the same name. It was common to replace the first letter of a name that began with a vowel, as in Edward, with an easier to pronounce consonant, such as T. Of course, Ted was already a popular nickname for Theodore, which makes it one of the only nicknames derived from two different first names. Can you name the others?

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Longdarkcloud · 11/10/2022 20:35

I don’t mind the Edward nns but do not like Fred which to me sounds fusty and pompous or even gormless as I the song — “ Right said Fred ——“

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Longdarkcloud · 11/10/2022 20:36

Harry is short for Harold and Henry

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RuthW · 11/10/2022 21:37

Love Edwin (Ed) and Edward.

Dd was going to be Frederick, but know as Eric.

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IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/10/2022 22:47

Both nice names - classic and elegant. But Edward is my pick as it's much more timeless (never left the top 100 historically as far as I can find) and has about a dozen nn's to boot so any boy/man can easily pick one to suit him - I personally like Ned best. Plus Edward reminds me of romantic literary characters like Rochester, Ferrars (and yes, that Twilight one, but at least that might make the name a bit cooler to younger kids?)

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FettleOfKish · 11/10/2022 22:58

I'd go for the one you prefer the long version of.

I know a 9 year old Edward who is steadfastly Edward, no matter how much family / school friends have tried to make Ed or Ted a thing. He just won't answer to them.

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