Is it a weird name?

[teatime2022]

Hi All

We had settled on the name Theodora for our girl due soon, and mainly to use the nickname Teddie as we both absolutely love it. Over time, I’ve gone off the name Theodora as it’s a bit of a mouthful to say and doesn’t really roll off the tongue, could we just call her Teddie or is this a bad idea? I’ve definitely seen more ‘out there’ names recently and I don’t think this is up there with any of those.

The other names we had on our list were old fashioned : Ada, Hazel, Violet etc

What about Thea? You could still use Teddie

Love it.

Sorry, definitely a bad idea in my opinion. She won't be a baby/small child forever. If she's a shy/awkward teen, being called Teddie Will be uncomfortable. And when she grows up, imagine her as a serious professional having to introduce herself as Teddie at meetings.
Thea or Theodora with nn Teddie much more sensible and accommodating of choices for her as she grows up.

introduce yourself to new people as it. Say ‘Hi, my name is Teddie’ and see how it makes you feel maybe?

This tiny cute baby you are having is going to be a 45 year old woman one day.

I know a little Frederica who's nick name is Freddie

No it’s a terrible idea. They are babies toddlers for a short time. If she ends up being a serious professional it just sounds daft. Sorry but I really don’t like cutesy names for girls.

@pluggedinn I love love love that! I’ve never really associated Teddie with a ‘cutesy’ name really, if I met a man in a meeting now called Ted/Teddie I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. I’m seeing a whirlwind of ‘Cece’s and Gigi’s as full names at the moment, which I find a little more out there / cutesy in comparison! For boy / girl I’ve always seen Teddie as an old fashioned name.

Id use Ada and just call her teddie as a nickname. It doesn’t have to be a nickname of longer name

Theadora gives her lots of options, she could stay Teddie or switch to Thea, Dora, Addy etc. Teddie seems a bit restrictive in my view, but to answer your question I don't think there's anything weird about it as a standalone name. Congratulations!

Teddie Bear. No keep Teddie as a nn, Theadora on her birth cert with the option of Thea or Dora as she's older. There are plenty of names that aren't old fashioned or mad.

There's a girl called Cinderella at my dd's school and she gets teased mercilessly. I wouldn't be surprised if she changed it by deed poll when she's 18.

@AnotherWrinkle thank you! Yes I think we’ll end up sticking to Theodora. It is a lovely name but quite a mouthful, plenty of nickname options though!!

I have a SIL called Theodora! She mostly goes by Theo. I love the name Violet 💜

I'd call her Thea on Theodora on her birth cert/passport but just always call her Teddie.

I don't like the trend of nicknames as legal names, but it is definitely becoming more normal.

If you name daughter Theodora, she will be called Thea, Theo, Dora ...plus I find Theodora way more old fashioned than Iris, Hazel, Ada. Teddy is more for male and even that its very infantile for grown up. Remember, you can't influence what nickname kids will be using at school etc, so better to choose name that can't be changed much and is easy to use.

You can influence names at school, they no longer insist on the name from the birth certificate, one of mine has a timeless name like Elizabeth but since a toddler has been known as something like Ronnie. School have their birth name and that is used for exams but other than that in registers etc it is always Ronnie.

Obviously nicknames can be made at any time but that isn't the same. Even my doctors has a name and known as section. Plus it's happened for years with given names and middle names.

However Teddie is not a birth certificate name imo, also it is extremely popular where I am so having a full name like Theodora or Edwina then gives options if there are four in a class

I think it's lovely. Theodora is posh and Teddy is cute, when she is a teenager it will be a cool name and Theodora for formal settings or work -go for it! 💐

Theodora is lovely.

Teddie as a full name isn't, however there are lots of Teddies/Teddys (full name- however awful) around who are male. Without meeting her, everyone will assume she's male.

I love Theodora! I know one who’s known as Dora.

At school I was friends with a Teddy, short for Elizabeth. She is still Teddy as an adult.

We have a Theodora. We shorten her name but do call her a combination of the shortening and Theodora. We actually use a different shortening than what we intended to call her.

It's a beautiful name OP

Theo or Dora are the natural shortenings imo. Teddie is forced but if you use it enough it will stick

I'd be pretty pissed off if I'd been formally named Teddie. I would change it.

Theodora is great - good formal name to have up your sleeve, use whatever shortening or nn you like. Win win.

I always think, what about meeting a female lawyer called 'xyz'. Teddie would sound ridiculous on a grown woman. Thea would work and not be a mouthful.

Theodora is a lovely name and I don't think it's too much of a mouthful at all. You probably know it's from the Greek, meaning gift of God, which is beautiful. I would stick with it on her birth cert and use your preferred nicknames for everyday.

I wouldn’t call her Teddie as her proper name.

Thea is beautiful if you think Theodora is a mouthful. Or how about Theadora?