Hugo vs Theodore
Hugo 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, Hugo was ranked #18 and Theodore #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Hugo was ranked #23 and Theodore #6 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Hugo was ranked #46 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Hugo was ranked #81 and Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Hugo was ranked #135 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Hugo was ranked #42 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Hugo and Theodore over time
Hugo and Theodore appear together in 5 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Theodore held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Hugo in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2016, Theodore moved ahead of Hugo in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #45 and #59 the year before became #50 and #46.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hugo and Theodore changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #46 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Hugo and Theodore averaged 19.5 places apart, ending at #46 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Hugo #45 in 2021, Theodore #8 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hugo held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Theodore in 24.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #45 in 2021, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hugo #46, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1992–2025
Hugo held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Theodore in 3.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #42 in 2025, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #42, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2003–2024
Hugo held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Theodore in 11.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #67 in 2023, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order changed in 2014: Theodore moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #271 and #343; by 2014 that had become #191 and #184.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hugo #81, Theodore #32.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 2015–2025
Hugo held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Theodore in 10.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #18 in 2025, Theodore #3 in 2024.
The order changed in 2016: Theodore moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #45 and #59; by 2016 that had become #50 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #18, Theodore #3.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 2013–2023
Hugo held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Theodore in 8.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #23 in 2023, Theodore #6 in 2022.
The order changed in 2017: Theodore moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #54 and #59; by 2017 that had become #47 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Hugo #23, 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 | Hugo | 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 | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #18 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Theodore has a recorded origin (Greek); Hugo does not have one recorded yet.
- Hugo has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodore; Hugo 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 Hugo 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
Hugo
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #186 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2009–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2009–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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