Namewise

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 2025, Theodore was ranked #9 and Tom #976 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 73 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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Theodore held the stronger position in 18 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, 2025: Theodore #9, Tom #976.

  • 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.

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 Theodore

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

  • Theodore vs Elijah

    Theodore and Elijah both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · 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.

    Theodore · Elijah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Theodore vs Hugo

    Theodore and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · 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.

    Theodore · Hugo · 31 shared years, 1992–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Leo vs Theodore

    Leo and Theodore both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · 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.

    Leo · Theodore · 33 shared years, 1964–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Theodore vs Archie

    Theodore 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.

    Theodore · Archie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries

Other comparisons involving Tom

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

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Theodore, Tom
FieldTheodoreTom
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningGift of God.Not yet recorded
OriginGreekNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/Not yet recorded
Syllables31
Common variants / nicknamesTeddyNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #48 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded2015–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2015–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #9 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Tom

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in Norway, in 1960 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #976 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys