Alfie vs Theodore
Alfie and Theodorecompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Alfie was ranked #96 and Theodore #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alfie was ranked #16 and Theodore #9 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfie was ranked #15 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alfie was ranked #17 and Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfie was ranked #36 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alfie and Theodore over time
Alfie and Theodore appear together in 3 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Alfie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Theodore in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alfie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Theodore in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2020, Theodore moved ahead of Alfie in England and Wales · Boys — #15 and #18 the year before became #18 and #14.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfie and Theodore were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #16 and #9.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alfie held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Theodore in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #4 in 2009, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order changed in 2020: Theodore moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #15 and #18; by 2020 that had become #18 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfie #16, Theodore #9.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2002–2025
Alfie held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Theodore in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #36 in 2017, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order changed in 2003: Alfie moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #451 and #451; by 2003 that had become #305 and #423.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfie #36, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2003–2024
Alfie held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Theodore in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #10 in 2016, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfie #17, Theodore #32.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alfie | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A diminutive/pet form, inheriting its meaning from Alfred — 'elf counsel', from Old English aelf ('elf') and raed ('counsel, advice'). | Gift of God. |
| Origin | English, diminutive of Alfred | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈælfi/ | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #16 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Alfie is recorded with a English, diminutive of Alfred origin, while Theodore is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Alfie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- Alfie's recorded meaning differs from Theodore's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alfie a "medium" Data Confidence level and Theodore a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Alfie
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #119 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #16 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Theodore
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2015–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2015–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #9 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys