Jamal vs Theodore
Jamal 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, Jamal was ranked #757 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jamal was ranked #352 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Jamal was ranked #660 and Theodore #66 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jamal and Theodore over time
Jamal and Theodore appear together in 2 published lists, across 43 years of shared records. Theodore held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jamal 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.
Jamal 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jamal held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theodore in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jamal #220 in 1996, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jamal #757, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1998–2023
Jamal held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Theodore in 9.
Highest recorded here: Jamal #324 in 1998, Theodore #55 in 2022.
The order changed in 2011: Theodore moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #448 and #720; by 2011 that had become #730 and #366.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Jamal #660, Theodore #66.
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 | Jamal | 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, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #352 (2024) | 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); Jamal does not have one recorded yet.
- Jamal has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodore; Jamal doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Jamal 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
Jamal
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #343 among boys in Norway in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #220 among boys in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #757 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