Namewise

Theo vs Tommy

Theo and Tommycompared 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, Theo was ranked #4 and Tommy #20 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Theo was ranked #5 and Tommy #20 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Theo was ranked #12 and Tommy #44 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2024, Theo was ranked #17 and Tommy #503 among boys in Norway.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2023, Theo was ranked #19 and Tommy #68 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Theo was ranked #21 and Tommy #27 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2025, Theo was ranked #32 and Tommy #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

Theo and Tommy over time

Theo and Tommy appear together in 4 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Theo held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tommy in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Tommy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Theo in 1. 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 2003, Theo moved ahead of Tommy in England and Wales · Boys — #137 and #125 the year before became #126 and #129.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Theo and Tommy changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2004 and 2024, ending at #5 and #20.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Theo and Tommy averaged 39.6 places apart, ending at #12 and #44.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Theo and Tommy were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #12 and #44.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Theo #9 in 2022, Tommy #22 in 2020.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys35 shared years, 19862024

    Theo held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Tommy in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Theo #17 in 2024, Tommy #34 in 1986.

    The order changed in 2004: Theo moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #201 and #185; by 2004 that had become #152 and #180.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Theo #17, Tommy #503.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 19962025

    Theo held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Tommy in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Theo #9 in 2022, Tommy #22 in 2020.

    The order changed in 2003: Theo moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #137 and #125; by 2003 that had become #126 and #129.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Theo #12, Tommy #44.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 19882025

    Theo held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Tommy in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Theo #13 in 2024, Tommy #21 in 2023.

    The order changed in 2018: Theo moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #73 and #68; by 2018 that had become #62 and #69.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Theo #21, Tommy #27.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 20042024

    Theo held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Tommy in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Theo #4 in 2022, Tommy #11 in 2023.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Theo #5, Tommy #20.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Theo

Pairs where Theo shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

  • Arthur vs Theo

    Arthur and Theo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Arthur · Theo · 37 shared years, 19862025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Henry vs Theo

    Henry and Theo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Henry · Theo · 37 shared years, 19862025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Theo vs Archie

    Theo and Archie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Theo · Archie · 30 shared years, 19962025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Theo vs Arlo

    Theo and Arlo both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Theo · Arlo · 27 shared years, 19992025 · Moved together in several countries

Other comparisons involving Tommy

Pairs where Tommy shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Theo, Tommy
FieldTheoTommy
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningGift of God.Not yet recorded
OriginGreek, via Theodore/TheodoraNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈθioʊ/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesTeddyNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #12 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #27 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Theo has a recorded origin (Greek, via Theodore/Theodora); Tommy does not have one recorded yet.
  • Theo has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Tommy.
  • A meaning is recorded for Theo; Tommy doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Theo a "high" Data Confidence level and Tommy a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

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 #12 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Tommy

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #268 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1999–2024

    Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1999–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #44 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys