Ernest vs Theodore

Ernest 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, Ernest was ranked #296 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ernest was ranked #727 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Ernest was ranked #552 and Theodore #72 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Ernest and Theodore over time

Ernest and Theodore appear together in 2 published lists, across 42 years of shared records. Theodore held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ernest 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.

Ernest reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.

Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ernest #270 in 2022, Theodore #8 in 2022.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ernest held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theodore in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ernest #270 in 2022, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ernest #296, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1964–2021
Ernest held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Theodore in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ernest #181 in 1964, Theodore #72 in 2021.
The order changed in 2009: Theodore moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #529 and #601; by 2009 that had become #532 and #532.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Ernest #552, Theodore #72.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Theodore

Pairs where Theodore shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Theodore vs Elijah
Theodore and Elijah both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Theodore · Elijah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Theodore vs Hugo
Theodore and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Theodore · Hugo · 31 shared years, 1992–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Leo vs Theodore
Leo and Theodore both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Leo · Theodore · 33 shared years, 1964–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Luca vs Theodore
Luca and Theodore both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Luca · Theodore · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Ernest, Theodore
Field	Ernest	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	GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE	AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observation	England and Wales · Boys #296 (2024)	New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	Not yet recorded	90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	88/100	76/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	100/100	100/100
Data Confidence	medium	high

What the data shows

Theodore has a recorded origin (Greek); Ernest does not have one recorded yet.
Ernest has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
A meaning is recorded for Theodore; Ernest doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
The available evidence gives Ernest 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

Ernest

Popularity journey

First recorded1964
First recorded at #181 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 recorded1964–2021
Highest recorded position: #167 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2021).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #296 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys