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Baby names

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

Teddy Oliver or Edward Oliver

69 replies

Gilmoregirl21 · 11/05/2026 10:19

Hi everyone,

I have a beautiful little baby boy, now 10 months old. I have been questioning our decision on his 'official' name pretty much since we registered him. We only have until 12 months to change easily, so time is running out. He is registered as Teddy Oliver. The other alternative was Edward Oliver and we would still shorten to Teddy at home, but officially he would be Edward. Thoughts please! I keep changing my mind. He is very much a Teddy, cheeky and full of energy. I do appreciate that it doesn't age as well as Edward. There are lots of ways to look at it
Popularity wise, on official lists Teddy is more popular than Edward. Thanks for voting and advice!

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hahabahbag · 11/05/2026 17:35

Edward gives him options, teddy is cute for a baby but perhaps not to be taken seriously at work

MrsLFii · 11/05/2026 17:37

Definitely Edward. Teddy is fine and quite cute for a toddler but even mid-primary age would seema bit babyish I think so would rather give him the option to go by other names, if he wanted. That being said, I know an Edward who goes by Ted and always has and it completely suits him. Maybe it’s what you’re used to.

ElixirOfLife · 11/05/2026 17:39

Edward.

Opens up possibilities in the future which your son may appreciate.

Livelaughlurgy · 11/05/2026 17:44

Prior to having kids I only knew adult Teddys and loved both the name. Loved it on yer man in the 90210 reboot etc. I have a family member whose parents used a formal name on the birth cert and a diminutive his whole life and it drives him nuts that they don't use the diminutive on his birth cert. So basically you can't do right for doing wrong. When he's an adult he'll be tripping over other Teddys. I have a name that was the top 5 for about 20 years and in spite of that I still had to regularly spell it on the phone because people hear me wrong. So there's no safe guarding the future.

Handeyethingyowl · 11/05/2026 17:48

Edward - gives him options if need be.

sallydoodlecat · 11/05/2026 17:51

I have an Edward. He was Teddy when very little. We now call him Ted at home. If anyone referred to him as Teddy from the age of 5 onwards he hated it. He’s now 15 and goes by Edward or Ed at school. We are still “allowed” to call him Ted at home. Edward when I’m cross :-).

dizzydizzydizzy · 11/05/2026 18:20

I gave DC2 an Edward type name on the birth certificate but everyone has called them the Teddy-style name since day 1. It was a deliberate decision - If DC2 wants to be a DJ, they can carry on calling themselves Teddy but if they decide to be a high court judge they might want to use the more formal and serious Edward name.

Gilmoregirl21 · 13/05/2026 12:10

Balloonhearts · 11/05/2026 16:30

There are kids registered as Princess, Superman and Apple. It doesn't make it a good name.

I'm not asking if you think Teddy is a good name. I love the name Teddy, as I do Edward. Teddy is a traditional, and yes shortened name. I don't think it can be compared to Superman or Apple!! Cheers for the response though, it gave me a laugh at least!

OP posts:
Tryagain26 · 13/05/2026 12:14

Put Edward on his birth certificate.
My husband was given a name like Teddy that is cute for a child but sounds wrong for a 60+ man. He hates it and wishes he was called the more famous name.

Tryagain26 · 13/05/2026 12:20

titchy · 11/05/2026 10:35

Didn’t do Ted Heath any harm…

He never called himself Teddy it was always Ted or Edward. Edward was his given name.
Teddy just sounds particularly babyish I don't think names like Tony, Bill , Harry or Charlie sound babyish like Teddy

CieloElmers · 13/05/2026 12:52

I personally would just stick with Teddy if thats what you call him all the time. I really don’t understand the need to have an “official name” it’s outdated.

When your Teddy is older he will be amongst a sea of Nevaeh’s, Jayden's, Evie’s, Persephone-Bluebell’s he wont stand out.

I would give not one shit if a teacher, policeman or Judge was called Teddy it doesn’t affect how they will do their job.

Dahlia1234 · 13/05/2026 13:17

Fwiw, my dad's name was Ted, rn Edward, and he HATED Teddy...

Shortbreadel · 13/05/2026 13:24

Sorry I know you're getting it a lot but Teddy won't age well with him. Id change it to Edward and have Teddy as a nickname so he has a 'proper' name when he's an adult.

Waitingfordoggo · 13/05/2026 13:40

This is a no brainer- Edward.

Then he can remain Teddy if he wants. Or Ted, Edward, Ed, Eddie.

Calliopespa · 13/05/2026 18:29

Gilmoregirl21 · 13/05/2026 12:10

I'm not asking if you think Teddy is a good name. I love the name Teddy, as I do Edward. Teddy is a traditional, and yes shortened name. I don't think it can be compared to Superman or Apple!! Cheers for the response though, it gave me a laugh at least!

You are right: both Teddy and Edward are classic and not at all comparable to Apple.

Myself, I see Teddy more as a "classic diminutive" and not a classic BC name. I'd go with Edward and call him Teddy until Ted or Ed feels more natural - which time may never come, or might come sooner than you expect.

That whole "group" of names are nice.

Tryagain26 · 13/05/2026 20:14

Tryagain26 · 13/05/2026 12:14

Put Edward on his birth certificate.
My husband was given a name like Teddy that is cute for a child but sounds wrong for a 60+ man. He hates it and wishes he was called the more famous name.

I meant more traditional name not famous name . I don't know where that came from!

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 13/05/2026 20:14

I would either go with Edward Oliver or Ted Oliver instead of Teddy.

mathanxiety · 13/05/2026 20:34

toastofthetown · 11/05/2026 10:33

Teddy and a multitude of other -ie/-y nicknames are in the top hundred for boys and girls and so I think they’ll age just fine because there will be so many of them so I really wouldn’t worry about that.

Just like all the Garys and Kevins and Tims...

PinkCatCushion · 13/05/2026 21:36

I just don’t think a hulking great teenager is going to want to be called a Teddy.

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