Caleb vs Theodore
Caleb 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 2024, Caleb was ranked #97 and Theodore #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Caleb was ranked #45 and Theodore #6 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #75 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #26 and Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #42 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Caleb and Theodore over time
Caleb and Theodore appear together in 4 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Caleb held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Theodore in 1.
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.
Caleb reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Theodore 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 2013, Theodore moved ahead of Caleb in England and Wales · Boys — #85 and #97 the year before became #88 and #78.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Caleb and Theodore averaged 38.2 places apart, ending at #75 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Caleb #72 in 2023, Theodore #8 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Theodore in 13.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order changed in 2013: Theodore moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #85 and #97; by 2013 that had become #88 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #75, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1992–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Theodore in 8.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2001–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Theodore in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #26, Theodore #32.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 2013–2023
Caleb held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Theodore in 8.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #38 in 2013, Theodore #6 in 2022.
The order changed in 2016: Theodore moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #51 and #62; by 2016 that had become #63 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Caleb #45, Theodore #6.
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 | 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 #108 (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); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Caleb has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodore; 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 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
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 #108 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