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Which is the best diminutive of Edward?

123 replies

worriesomework · 24/11/2022 04:28

I've liked Edward with Ted as the diminutive for a long time. DH said he didn't like it and much preferred Ed.

I went and thought about this and although I had my heart set on Ted, I came round to the idea of idea of Ed instead and now maybe prefer it.

Yesterday DH announced he'd been thinking about it too and he now likes Ted.

Any opinions? I know that our son may well choose his own diminutive when he's older, which is fine by us, but in the mean time we want to know what to call him once he's here! I hate decisions so definitely don't want to go down the wait the he's here and see what feels right camp. We have older children and would be confusing for them to switch between two names.

OP posts:
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Silvergreenblue · 24/11/2022 04:37

Ned

Pallisers · 24/11/2022 04:39

Call him Edward if you like the name. If you don't like Edward as an actual name then maybe think again. (it is a lovely name)

Of the diminutives Ted is the best for me. But I can't imagine naming my child Edward with the intent of him being always called Ted/Ned /Ed. I'd pick a name I liked for itself.

worriesomework · 24/11/2022 04:41

We do of course like the name Edward, but we will likely use whichever diminutive a lot to sound less formal. Have done similar for DC2's name.

OP posts:
Imogensmumma · 24/11/2022 04:52

Ed, or Eddie. I find Ted or Teddy is a way for parents to baby or infantilise the child

worriesomework · 24/11/2022 04:59

I agree with Teddy- just find it twee and a big no. Weirdly don't think of Ted in the same way though.

OP posts:
EHopes · 24/11/2022 04:59

Ted and Ned.

Not Ed.

HoppingPavlova · 24/11/2022 05:09

Ted. I knew lots of the older generation called Ted, all gone now. Never sounded like anyone babying grown men!

onlythreenow · 24/11/2022 05:13

another vote for Ned.

Ifiwasabird · 24/11/2022 05:15

Just be aware that he may be one of many Ted's in the class if you go with that. DD is 6 and she has 4 friends called Ted/Teddy. It's by far the most common boys name in our area (NW, suburb).

GingerPigz · 24/11/2022 05:24

Ted, Ned or Edo...

greenacrylicpaint · 24/11/2022 05:41

I know one who is called wally.
(also one of many edward and variations)

UncomfortableBadger · 24/11/2022 05:46

We have a baby Edward who goes by Ted while he’s small 🙂 Intention is that he’ll choose his own nickname as he gets older as there’s plenty of choice (Ned, Ted, Teddy, Ed, Eddie, Edo etc).

I’m keen for him to be able to choose his own diminutive to suit him, his personality and later on, his career also. Lawyer, builder, mechanic, artist, media type - there’s a version of his name to suit. I do have a soft spot for the nickname Ted for now though, especially as all the Teds I’ve known have been thoroughly decent, affable chaps.

I feel strongly about it as I was given a short girls name which was popular in the 90s & which couldn’t easily be adapted into an affectionate nickname. It’s a bit “of the time” and I hate that.

SpinningTooFastIWantToGetOff · 24/11/2022 05:52

Woody

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/11/2022 06:02

Surely children and their friends pick the nickname.

I find it really odd parents deciding it beforehand.

Giggorata · 24/11/2022 06:22

I quite like Ned and I actively dislike Ted.
I’ve also heard Ward used.

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 24/11/2022 06:41

I know a woody who's an Edward

Hermanfromguesswho · 24/11/2022 07:08

I know one who has Woody as his nickname.
I have an Edward who I called Teddy thinking he would choose his own nickname as he got older. He’s a teenager now and has stuck firmly with Teddy!

KirstenBlest · 24/11/2022 07:09

Ned is awful. Teddy is too popular. Ed and Eddie are ok
Red is cool.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 24/11/2022 08:45

It's not a nickname, it's a diminutive, as correctly described by OP.

Ted is no more infantile than Ed or Ned Confused

Ted for me.

RambamThankyouMam · 24/11/2022 08:46

Please not Ted.

There are more Teds and Teddies around these days than a bloody toy factory.

mondaytosunday · 24/11/2022 08:50

Eddie.

JoanThursday · 24/11/2022 08:55

I have an Edward. We didn't deliberately choose a diminutive. I still largely use his full name, but he introduces himself as Ed, his friends use that, and now school teachers etc do too. It just happened - we didn't steer it in any way. Didn't think to do so!

I agree with Teddy being a bit twee, though.

Same with a friend's daughter: she wanted Izzy but her dd called herself Bella and it just stuck.

Squiblet · 24/11/2022 09:00

Sir Teds von den Bearington

worriesomework · 24/11/2022 09:04

RambamThankyouMam · 24/11/2022 08:46

Please not Ted.

There are more Teds and Teddies around these days than a bloody toy factory.

I'm not concerned by popularity in the slightest. Also feel like it's Teddy in particular that's extremely popular at the moment.

OP posts:
CaronPoivre · 24/11/2022 09:14

He can be called different things by different people. Many people are. Personally I think Teddy is fine for a toddler but a bit embarrassing for a fifteen year old, but Ed is a bit of an American journalist’s name. I know Edwards that are Ted, Winnie, Eddy, Ching, Dewy, Wardy, Duo and just Edward. Our son is called by at least seven different names by different people or groups.

In my experience names evolve and parents have little control over what others call them.