Caleb vs Theo
Caleb and Theo compared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #42 and Theo #4 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #26 and Theo #5 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #82 and Theo #12 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Caleb was ranked #45 and Theo #19 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Theo #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #97 and Theo #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Caleb and Theo over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Caleb and Theo over time
Caleb and Theo appear together in 4 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Theo reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Caleb in 1. 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 2001, Theo moved ahead of Caleb in England and Wales · Boys — #149 and #156 the year before became #154 and #142.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Caleb and Theo averaged 50.6 places apart, ending at #82 and #12.
- Longest-running competitions
Caleb and Theo were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #82 and #12.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Caleb #72 in 2023, Theo #9 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Theo in 25.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Theo #9 in 2022.
The order changed in 2001: Theo moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #149 and #156; by 2001 that had become #154 and #142.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #82, Theo #12.
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Theo in 13.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Theo #13 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Theo moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #122 and #176; by 2013 that had become #171 and #152.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Theo #21.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2001–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Theo in 7.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Theo #4 in 2022.
The order changed in 2018: Theo moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #21 and #48; by 2018 that had become #28 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #26, Theo #5.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2014–2023
Caleb held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Theo in 7.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #42 in 2020, Theo #19 in 2023.
The order changed in 2020: Theo moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #43 and #44; by 2020 that had become #42 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Caleb #45, Theo #19.
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 | Caleb | Theo |
|---|---|---|
| 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, via Theodore/Theodora |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈθioʊ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #82 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #12 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Theo has a recorded origin (Greek, via Theodore/Theodora); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Caleb has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Theo.
- A meaning is recorded for Theo; Caleb 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 Caleb a "medium" Data Confidence level and Theo a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #82 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Theo
Popularity journey
First recorded1986
First recorded at #637 among boys in Norway in 1986 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2001–2024
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 2001–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #12 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys