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Original poster

The name Teddy ?

173 replies

August21yellowbaby · 14/11/2023 09:41

I have a little boy named Albie and die another baby boy in April! 💙

I love the name Teddy, but I'm not sure if on the birth certificate I should use a "proper" name incase he doesn't like using Teddy at school or work...?

I mean, I know quite a few teddy's nowadays so hoping it's not seen as "unusual" anymore

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sunglassesonthetable · 16/11/2023 10:51

Do people not understand the concept of nicknames v given names? Do they not pause to envision their offspring coping with these names past age 5-6?

I don't have to imagine it tbh @LaurieStrode
my young adult Teddy "copes" just fine as did his great grandfather. . Not a barrister mind you.

Do people not pause to envision that there are people out there not exactly like their own frame of reference.

TidyDancer · 16/11/2023 11:02

I don't think people have been rude to you OP, although I can understand it's easy to be over sensitive when it's an already named child we're talking about! It's the reason some people don't give names until they're born after all.

People were asking valid questions though, you've given a nickname/shortening to your first DC so what it is about Teddy that's bothered you more? I'm thinking it's more the teddy bear connection than the cutesy aspect.

Justanothermanicfunday · 16/11/2023 11:11

Eldest DC has 4 Teddys in his class, only one of them is an Edward!

YourWinter · 16/11/2023 11:13

Teddy is not a cute name once they’re school age.

BlueGrey1 · 16/11/2023 11:32

I would go for a proper name on birth cert and then you can shorten it if you want, it gives him more options

Highflow · 16/11/2023 11:35

My nephew is Ted on birth certificate but known as Teddy now while he is a toddler. The thought is he’ll start school and will probably be start to called Ted

K4tM · 16/11/2023 11:41

My dog is called Teddy. And so are many other dogs we meet, especially Pomeranians. I do think it’s a cute form of Edward though.

DiaNaranja · 16/11/2023 11:47

Go with Edward or Theodore on the birth certificate so he has options. If you end up calling him Teddy more often than not, then on his nursery/school forms, they ask for preferred names, so won't be an issue to make it clear that's what his "chosen" name is. Teddy isn't a "proper name", and I can't imagine any teenage boy thanking you for inflicting that on him with no options to change it up a bit. Yes cute on a baby, toddler, but not for a boy once over the age of 5 or 6, and older. My husband is called Edward, he gets called Ted by family and friends, but Ed at work. I'm the only one allowed to call him Teddy! I also have a name that can be shortened to a cutesy nickname that has recently become quite popular, and some use it as a name in its own right. Although I don't mind being called by the "cute" version occasionally, I'd hate it to be my full name, and am glad I have a proper name to go by at work etc.

Lostmumdotcom · 16/11/2023 11:50

I liked Theodore for this exact reason, over his life he could decide his nickname over the years. So when little I'd call him Teddy but then I thought in his teens/early adult would be theo and maybe as he's old he'd use Theodore. I had a girl 😅

vickylou78 · 16/11/2023 12:14

Personally I'd put Edward on birth certificate so gives the child flexibility when they get older.

KirstenBlest · 16/11/2023 12:23

But Albie won't have that option.
I don't like Theodore and Edward has a different initial to Teddy.

WeeSleekitCowrinTimrousBeastie · 16/11/2023 12:24

Aquamarine1029 · 14/11/2023 09:44

Your child will spend the vast majority of their life as an adult. I would give them a name that will serve them well in their adult years, and I personally think Teddy, as their given name, isn't it.

Agree completely with this.

sunglassesonthetable · 16/11/2023 12:31

Teddy isn't a "proper name", and I can't imagine any teenage boy thanking you for inflicting that on him with no options to change it up a bit.

🤔🙄

KirstenBlest · 16/11/2023 12:57

The top 30 boy's names (2021)

Rank Name
7 Harry
9 Archie
12 Freddie
13 Jack
14 Charlie
16 Alfie
24 Tommy
26 Teddy

BelleSauvage9 · 16/11/2023 12:57

It it was me I'd go with Theodore, then you can use teddy but they could use Theo as a teen/adult if they weren't keen on teddy

Manthide · 16/11/2023 14:14

HAF1119 · 14/11/2023 17:20

Teddy is a lovely name and if you like it use it

Generally I think use the name you'd like them to be known as, so if you like Teddy, go for teddy. If he wants a more mature name when older he can still shorten to Ted easily

Two friends of mine had boys about the same age as mine, one was named Benji, the other Mikey. We are not in touch now our ds are in their 20s and I have no idea what career they wish to pursue but I did wonder why the mothers didn't name them Michael and Benjamin and call them Mikey and Benji.

Manthide · 16/11/2023 14:27

KnowYouAreLoved · 15/11/2023 14:23

*Lots of popular names nowadays are infantilising. For girls, too. Gracie-Mae will be a grown up one day and it won't sit right. Grace is just, well, more normal.

I know an Abbie who is just that, Abbie, not Abigail (though that's probably one of the better examples). Our hairdresser called her daughter Izzi. Just that, it's not short for Isabel(le)*

Babyish names are definitely fashionable just now. I met a Molly-Mae-Rae the other day and just couldn't imagine her as an adult with that name. I'd be £100 she calls herself Molly by the age of 15.

My cousin's daughter was 'Lily-Beth' but now aged 16 she's 'Lily'.

cheddercherry · 16/11/2023 14:40

I actually like Teddy and have a young relative called Teddy (a Theodore) who upon starting year 2 this year refuses to be called it. Says it’s babyish and he wants to go by Theo (so of course we all do now call him Theo as he wishes). Sometimes names just fit people and I guess Teddy has connotations of a type of little boy, or at least to him and his peers?

At the end of the day you pick a name you feel is right, no matter what you call kids they will make their own choice. I have a very normal, semi common name and I intensely dislike it and always have, never felt it fit me. It’s absolutely not a bad name, I’ve never been bullied for it, I just don’t like it. Go with what you think is right.

FedUpOfInstaMum · 16/11/2023 14:43

For a baby is cute, not for an older child or adult IMO.

It's also very common now. I know quite a few.

JaxiiTaxii · 16/11/2023 14:47

Love Ted & Teddy.

But call the kid Edward or Theodore.

Don't take away his options.

stichguru · 16/11/2023 14:53

Call him Edward. He can still be Teddy till the day he dies as an old man if he wants, but he'll have other options too. My real name is Jo as in just Jo. I love my name and have never wished it was longer, but having people ask "what is that short for?" than having to say "oh it's just Jo" is no more hassle then saying "Joanne, but I like to called Jo" would be!

warmmfeet · 16/11/2023 14:54

Well my eldest is Theo but we put Theodore on his birth certificate so he could choose a variation on that or have a more formal name if he wanted when he's older. He's 5 now and we have never called him anything but Theo, tbh I cringe when I see Theodore on his school documents. It doesn't suit him and it's not his name!

I think my hormones must have been at play or something... and I wish we'd just called him Theo! Just keep it simple I reckon. However all that said, I LOVE the name Edward

McConkeysPlate · 16/11/2023 14:57

My Ted is an Edward, I have only recently started calling him Teddy and he is a huge young man in his 20’s 😆

GasDrivenNun · 16/11/2023 14:58

My grandad was known as Ted but his actual name was Edwin. If you want something other than Edward.

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 16/11/2023 15:04

So if Ted is an accepted short version, why can’t a child called Teddy go by it? Why does he have to be called Edward to use Ted?

This place makes no sense sometimes when it comes to names. No one has to go by any of the names on their birth certificate if they don’t like them. If you’re a barrister (why is it always a barrister? Most kids have more chance of being a barista) and your name is so hideously embarrassing, you can change it to Rupert or something equally “suitable”if you want to.