Nikolai vs Theodor
Nikolai 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Nikolai was ranked #103 and Theodor #11 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nikolai was ranked #829 and Theodor #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nikolai was ranked #1235 and Theodor #622 among boys in England and Wales.
Nikolai and Theodor over time
Nikolai and Theodor appear together in 2 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Nikolai reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Theodor 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 2008, Theodor moved ahead of Nikolai in Norway · Boys — #51 and #60 the year before became #50 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nikolai and Theodor changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1235 and #622.
- Longest-running competitions
Nikolai and Theodor were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 44 years, from 1948 to 2025, ending at #103 and #11.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Nikolai #894 in 2019, Theodor #514 in 2021.
List by list
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1948–2025
Nikolai held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Theodor in 19.
Highest recorded here: Nikolai #41 in 2004, Theodor #8 in 2024.
The order changed in 2008: Theodor moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #51 and #60; by 2008 that had become #50 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nikolai #103, Theodor #11.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nikolai held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Theodor in 14.
Highest recorded here: Nikolai #894 in 2019, Theodor #514 in 2021.
The order changed in 2012: Theodor moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #1447 and #1522; by 2012 that had become #1367 and #1086.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nikolai #1235, 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 | Nikolai | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #103 (2025) | Norway · Boys #11 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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); Nikolai does not have one recorded yet.
- Nikolai has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Theodor.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodor; Nikolai doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Nikolai
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #349 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1946–2025
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in Norway, in 2004 (recorded 1946–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #103 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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