Lincoln vs Theo
Lincoln and Theocompared 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, Lincoln was ranked #478 and Theo #4 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Lincoln was ranked #339 and Theo #5 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Lincoln was ranked #302 and Theo #12 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Lincoln was ranked #84 and Theo #19 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Lincoln was ranked #432 and Theo #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Lincoln was ranked #95 and Theo #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Lincoln and Theo over time
Lincoln and Theo appear together in 4 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. Theo held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lincoln in 1.
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.
Lincoln reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Theo 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2022, Theo moved ahead of Lincoln in New Zealand · Boys — #33 and #42 the year before became #47 and #23.
- Longest-running competitions
Lincoln and Theo were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #302 and #12.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Lincoln #33 in 2021, Theo #19 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lincoln held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theo in 30.
Highest recorded here: Lincoln #106 in 2017, Theo #9 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lincoln #302, Theo #12.
Republic of Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2006–2025
Lincoln held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theo in 16.
Highest recorded here: Lincoln #305 in 2017, Theo #13 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lincoln #432, Theo #21.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2006–2024
Lincoln held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theo in 15.
Highest recorded here: Lincoln #202 in 2017, Theo #4 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lincoln #339, Theo #5.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2014–2023
Lincoln held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Theo in 3.
Highest recorded here: Lincoln #33 in 2021, Theo #19 in 2023.
The order changed in 2022: Theo moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #33 and #42; by 2022 that had become #47 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lincoln #84, 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 | Lincoln | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #302 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #12 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Theo has a recorded origin (Greek, via Theodore/Theodora); Lincoln does not have one recorded yet.
- Lincoln has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Theo.
- A meaning is recorded for Theo; Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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
Lincoln
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1168 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2007–2023
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in New Zealand, in 2021 (recorded 2007–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #302 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