Theodore vs Tom
Theodore and Tomcompared 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 2024, Theodore was ranked #8 and Tom #757 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Theodore was ranked #32 and Tom #60 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Theodore was ranked #36 and Tom #352 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Theodore was ranked #44 and Tom #48 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Theodore and Tom over time
Theodore and Tom appear together in 3 published lists, across 72 years of shared records. Tom held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Theodore 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.
Tom reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Theodore 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Theodore moved into the top 50 at #32 in 2024 as Tom fell out of it to #60, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Theodore moved ahead of Tom in England and Wales · Boys — #141 and #119 the year before became #128 and #140.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Theodore held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Tom in 12.
Highest recorded here: Theodore #8 in 2022, Tom #83 in 2000.
The order changed in 2008: Theodore moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #141 and #119; by 2008 that had become #128 and #140.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Theodore #8, Tom #757.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1988–2025
Theodore held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Tom in 25.
Highest recorded here: Theodore #44 in 2025, Tom #32 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Theodore #44, Tom #48.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2001–2024
Theodore held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Tom in 13.
Highest recorded here: Theodore #32 in 2024, Tom #42 in 2016.
The order changed in 2024: Theodore moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #47 and #42; by 2024 that had become #32 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Theodore #32, Tom #60.
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 | Theodore | Tom |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Gift of God. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Teddy | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #48 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Theodore has a recorded origin (Greek); Tom does not have one recorded yet.
- Theodore has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Tom.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodore; Tom doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Theodore a "high" Data Confidence level and Tom a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
Tom
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #50 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in Norway, in 1960 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #388 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys