Seosamh vs Theo
Seosamh 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Seosamh was ranked #414 and Theo #4 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Seosamh was ranked #829 and Theo #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Seosamh and Theo over time
Seosamh and Theo appear together in 1 published list, across 14 years of shared records. Theo held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Seosamh 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.
Seosamh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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
Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1996–2025
Seosamh held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Theo in 12.
Highest recorded here: Seosamh #274 in 2000, Theo #17 in 2023.
The order changed in 2007: Theo moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #274 and #347; by 2007 that had become #473 and #220.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Seosamh #829, Theo #21.
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 | Seosamh | 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 | GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Theo has a recorded origin (Greek, via Theodore/Theodora); Seosamh does not have one recorded yet.
- Seosamh has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Theo.
- A meaning is recorded for Theo; Seosamh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Seosamh 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
Seosamh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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