Bruce vs Theodore
Bruce 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bruce was ranked #898 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bruce was ranked #727 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bruce was ranked #676 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Bruce and Theodore over time
Bruce and Theodore appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Theodore held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Bruce in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Bruce reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Theodore rose about as far as Bruce fell — from #472 and #209 in 1996 to #898 and #8 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bruce held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theodore in 29.
Highest recorded here: Bruce #472 in 1996, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bruce #898, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1964–2025
Bruce held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Theodore in 14.
Highest recorded here: Bruce #204 in 1964, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order changed in 2012: Theodore moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #491 and #720; by 2012 that had become #616 and #310.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bruce #676, Theodore #44.
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 | Bruce | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Gift of God. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Theodore has a recorded origin (Greek); Bruce does not have one recorded yet.
- Bruce has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodore; Bruce doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Bruce 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
Bruce
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1980
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1980).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys