Ted vs Theo
Ted 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ted was ranked #619 and Theo #4 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Ted was ranked #256 and Theo #5 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ted was ranked #232 and Theo #12 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ted was ranked #170 and Theo #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Ted was ranked #476 and Theo #22 among boys in Norway.
Ted and Theo over time
Ted and Theo appear together in 4 published lists, across 78 years of shared records. Theo held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ted 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.
Ted reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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.
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 2005, Theo moved ahead of Ted in Norway · Boys — #610 and #611 the year before became #512 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Ted #158 in 2021, Theo #4 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ted held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theo in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ted #150 in 2015, Theo #9 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ted #232, Theo #12.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1999–2025
Ted held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theo in 24.
Highest recorded here: Ted #90 in 2021, Theo #13 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ted #170, Theo #21.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2012–2024
Ted held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theo in 12.
Highest recorded here: Ted #158 in 2021, Theo #4 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ted #256, Theo #5.
Norway · Boys12 shared years, 1986–2025
Ted held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Theo in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ted #396 in 2023, Theo #17 in 2024.
The order changed in 2005: Theo moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #610 and #611; by 2005 that had become #512 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ted #476, Theo #22.
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 | Ted | 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 | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #170 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #21 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Theo has a recorded origin (Greek, via Theodore/Theodora); Ted does not have one recorded yet.
- Ted and Theo both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Theo; Ted doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Ted 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
Ted
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #484 among boys in Norway in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2025
Highest recorded position: #90 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1999–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #476 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #32 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys