Sonny vs Theodore
Sonny and Theodorecompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Sonny was ranked #40 and Theodore #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Sonny was ranked #51 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Sonny was ranked #28 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Sonny was ranked #74 and Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Sonny was ranked #44 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Sonny and Theodore over time
Sonny and Theodore appear together in 4 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Theodore held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sonny in 1.
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.
Theodore reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Sonny 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 2021, Sonny moved ahead of Theodore in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #81 and #66 the year before became #54 and #72.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Sonny and Theodore changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 2003 and 2025, ending at #28 and #44.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Sonny and Theodore averaged 37.8 places apart, ending at #51 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Sonny #51 in 2024, Theodore #8 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Sonny held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Theodore in 17.
Highest recorded here: Sonny #51 in 2024, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Sonny #51, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 2003–2025
Sonny held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Theodore in 7.
Highest recorded here: Sonny #28 in 2025, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order changed in 2021: Sonny moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #81 and #66; by 2021 that had become #54 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sonny #28, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 2009–2024
Sonny held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Theodore in 10.
Highest recorded here: Sonny #74 in 2024, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order changed in 2015: Theodore moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #145 and #184; by 2015 that had become #259 and #211.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Sonny #74, Theodore #32.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 2016–2025
Sonny held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theodore in 9.
Highest recorded here: Sonny #40 in 2025, Theodore #3 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sonny #40, Theodore #3.
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 | Sonny | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #28 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Theodore has a recorded origin (Greek); Sonny does not have one recorded yet.
- Sonny has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodore; Sonny doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Sonny a "medium" Data Confidence level and Theodore a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Sonny
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #237 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 recorded2001–2025
Highest recorded position: #28 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 2001–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #40 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Theodore
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 recorded2015–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2015–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys