Namewise

Paulius vs Theo

Paulius 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.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2019, Paulius was ranked #3411 and Theo #16 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2016, Paulius was ranked #534 and Theo #42 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2016, Paulius was ranked #713 and Theo #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Paulius and Theo over time

Paulius and Theo appear together in 2 published lists, across 22 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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.

Paulius reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys11 shared years, 19992019

    Paulius held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theo in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Paulius #2270 in 2012, Theo #16 in 2019.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Paulius #3411, Theo #16.

  • Norway · Boys11 shared years, 19862016

    Paulius held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Theo in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Paulius #284 in 1986, Theo #42 in 2016.

    The order changed in 1998: Theo moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #532 and #541; by 1998 that had become #483 and #383.

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Paulius #534, Theo #42.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Paulius, Theo
FieldPauliusTheo
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedGift of God.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek, via Theodore/Theodora
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈθioʊ/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedTeddy
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #3411 (2019)Republic of Ireland · Boys #21 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Theo has a recorded origin (Greek, via Theodore/Theodora); Paulius does not have one recorded yet.
  • Paulius has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Theo.
  • A meaning is recorded for Theo; Paulius doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
  • The available evidence gives Paulius 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

Paulius

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1979

    First recorded at #508 among boys in Norway in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1979–2016

    Highest recorded position: #208 among boys in Norway, in 1987 (recorded 1979–2016).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2019

    Most recently recorded at #3411 among boys in England and Wales, in 2019.

    England and Wales · Boys

Theo

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded2001–2024

    Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 2001–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #32 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys