Malek vs Theodor
Malek and Theodorcompared 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, Malek was ranked #1517 and Theodor #622 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Malek was ranked #727 and Theodor #727 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Malek was ranked #785 and Theodor #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Malek and Theodor over time
Malek and Theodor appear together in 1 published list, across 26 years of shared records. Theodor held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Malek 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.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Malek and Theodor changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1517 and #622.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Malek #939 in 2021, Theodor #514 in 2021.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2024
Malek held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Theodor in 22.
Highest recorded here: Malek #939 in 2021, Theodor #514 in 2021.
The order changed in 2010: Theodor moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #1568 and #2544; by 2010 that had become #3865 and #1201.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Malek #1517, Theodor #622.
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 | Malek | Theodor |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The German form of Theodore, and a Scandinavian, Czech and Romanian variant of Teodor — from Greek 'theos' (god) and 'doron' (gift), 'gift of God'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek roots, transmitted through German and Scandinavian naming traditions as a Teodor variant |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈteː.o.doːɐ̯/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) | Norway · Boys #11 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Theodor has a recorded origin (Greek roots, transmitted through German and Scandinavian naming traditions as a Teodor variant); Malek does not have one recorded yet.
- Malek and Theodor both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodor; Malek doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Malek
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1337 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 recorded2019–2024
Highest recorded position: #631 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 2019–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1517 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Theodor
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #363 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1948–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Norway, in 2024 (recorded 1948–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys