[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone! I’m 5 months pregnant with, what we just out, is a baby boy! Obviously, we are super excited, but my husband and I were sure that we were having a girl, so… Yeah. The only name we picked out is decidedly feminine: [name_f]Lily[/name_f].
Regardless, after an exhaustive name search, I’ve found that I love the name [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]. So cute and smart, I think. But I have a few problems: one, I hate the nn [name_m]Ted[/name_m]. I’m down with [name_m]Theo[/name_m] and [name_m]Teddy[/name_m], but [name_m]Ted[/name_m] just sounds so unappealing to me. I also found that I kind of associate [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] with…[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] “[name_m]Ted[/name_m]” Bundy, a famous serial killer (I read a book about him once and it scarred me for life).
Am I being too crazy and particular? I really like the sound of [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], as well as [name_u]Theo[/name_u] and [name_u]Teddy[/name_u], but I can’t fully commit to the name. Does anyone have any alternative names that might be somewhat similar, in feel? The name does not have to start with TH. Any insight anyone has would be fantastic!
I like the nn [name_u]Theo[/name_u] a lot, but I sort of associate the name with Bundy too. It’s unfortunate, because it’s my nephew’s name. Similar to [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] is hard. The only two I can think of that I associate with it are [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] and [name_m]Philip[/name_m].
I like [name_u]Theo[/name_u] as a name by itself. [name_m]Theon[/name_m] would by my suggestion. Also, [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] doesn’t have to be nicknamed [name_m]Ted[/name_m]. He’s got [name_u]Theo[/name_u], [name_u]Teddy[/name_u], [name_f]Dori[/name_f], [name_m]Thor[/name_m]…
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] (Bastion or [name_m]Baz[/name_m]), [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] ([name_m]Leo[/name_m] or [name_m]Enzo[/name_m]), [name_m]Alexio[/name_m] (Xio), [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] ([name_u]Nico[/name_u]), [name_u]Dorian[/name_u] (but I dislike it intensely), Thucydides ([name_u]Theo[/name_u]?)
Theodore has been on my list of boys names for a few months now and it never occurred to me to use/not use Ted. I just didn’t even think of it! I understand about the bundy association, for sure, but so long as his last name doesn’t resemble that (no - dee last names, or ones with similar sounds) I don’t think it’s the strongest association other people will make. If you’re worried, I’d exclusively call him Theodore or Theo. Shy away from using Teddy because that could open the door for Ted quite easily. But Theo to Ted isn’t as automatic. I’d suggest Sebastian (as others have), Dean, Thomas, James,…
Since you like a couple of the possible nicknames for [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] and like the name so much in general, I think it is a good choice for you and you will probably get over the bad association quickly. With that said, you may also like [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m].
When I hear the name [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] with the nickname [name_m]Ted[/name_m] is [name_m]Ted[/name_m] Mosby from [name_m]How[/name_m] I Met Your Mother, which I think of as a good association. I was going to suggest that name [name_m]Theon[/name_m] but dantea has already suggested it. I was also thinking maybe [name_m]Theron[/name_m].