Nils vs Theodor
Nils 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, Nils was ranked #61 and Theodor #11 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nils was ranked #4270 and Theodor #622 among boys in England and Wales.
Nils and Theodor over time
Nils and Theodor appear together in 2 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Theodor held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nils in 0.
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.
Nils 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 2001, Theodor moved ahead of Nils in Norway · Boys — #121 and #139 the year before became #129 and #126.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nils and Theodor changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #4270 and #622.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Theodor rose about as far as Nils fell — from #2020 and #2863 in 1996 to #4270 and #622 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Nils and Theodor were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 44 years, from 1948 to 2025, ending at #61 and #11.
List by list
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1948–2025
Nils held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Theodor in 26.
Highest recorded here: Nils #22 in 1948, Theodor #8 in 2024.
The order changed in 2001: Theodor moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #121 and #139; by 2001 that had become #129 and #126.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nils #61, Theodor #11.
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2024
Nils held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Theodor in 15.
Highest recorded here: Nils #1746 in 2001, Theodor #514 in 2021.
The order changed in 2010: Theodor moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #1859 and #2544; by 2010 that had become #3332 and #1201.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nils #4270, 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 | Nils | 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 | /ˈteː.o.doːɐ̯/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 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 #61 (2025) | Norway · Boys #11 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Nils does not have one recorded yet.
- Nils has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Theodor.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodor; Nils doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Nils
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #26 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Norway, in 1947 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #61 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