Theodore

#11,932 for girls in 2025, 7 births · #4 for boys in 2025, 13,355 births
Given to boys 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
2025 · 13,355 births
Debut · boys
232 births
In top 100 · boys
80 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
317,206
since 1880

Theodore over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201940boysat peak
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#11,9327#413,355
2024#7,96713#412,069
2023#8,98911#711,093
2022#7,28115#1010,824
2021#11,1468#109,600
2020#7,55914#238,638
2019#12,4487#367,896
2018—#447,088
2017—#615,973
2016#12,8767#834,910
2015—#994,155
2014—#1263,228
2013—#1672,429
2012#16,8695#1941,945
2011—#2301,573
2010—#2571,333
2009—#2761,239
2008—#2931,139
2007—#3001,137
2006—#2951,133
2005—#2991,095
2004—#3131,005
2003—#309964
2002—#300975
2001—#306935
2000—#312934
1999—#314913
1998—#289984
1997—#291956
1996—#294905
1995—#284956
1994—#291941
1993—#2771,036
1992—#2591,093
1991—#2511,098
1990—#2331,231
1989—#2161,293
1988#7,6919#2111,239
1987#6,33511#2061,218
1986#5,45913#2001,256
1985#4,63516#2001,211
1984#10,4225#2131,069
1983#5,82411#2061,156
1982#9,2376#2071,189
1981#5,88511#2181,133
1980#9,0956#2061,194
1979#8,0617#1981,238
1978#5,21412#1951,212
1977#6,8928#1941,223
1976#4,61413#1891,174
1975#9,0675#1891,197
1974#3,42619#1801,269
1973#6,0808#1751,342
1972—#1751,419
1971#4,81011#1661,664
1970#5,8188#1601,829
1969#4,19812#1531,945
1968#7,0165#1491,887
1967#3,65613#1491,854
1966#5,2737#1491,905
1965#5,2897#1432,140
1964#4,35510#1522,169
1963#4,5399#1422,387
1962#3,78212#1462,316
1961#3,31815#1512,303
1960#3,92011#1492,382
1959#4,6258#1462,399
1958#3,08515#1402,503
1957#4,5368#1322,760
1956#5,9525#1192,955
1955#4,7407#1202,976
1954#3,15713#1153,074
1953#3,10613#1122,937
1952#3,55210#1003,270
1951#4,3857#993,216
1950#3,9628#992,960
1949#4,6736#1003,041
1948#3,13711#1042,830
1947#5,2955#1022,928
1946#4,4176#1012,612
1945#4,0256#1012,347
1944#2,76211#962,574
1943#4,6915#962,616
1942#4,1246#912,665
1941#4,4205#952,330
1940#3,5037#902,306
1939#2,59211#902,196
1938#2,9409#842,360
1937#2,57011#862,317
1936#2,8579#872,219
1935#3,7426#792,433
1934#1,83418#742,523
1933#2,40412#682,611
1932#2,13015#672,674
1931#1,75020#702,666
1930#1,81520#672,958
1929#1,39330#652,903
1928#1,63725#662,916
1927#1,72824#623,124
1926#2,16517#633,129
1925#2,37815#633,226
1924#2,40915#653,225
1923#2,02119#623,157
1922#2,47914#623,216
1921#4,0237#653,172
1920#2,26316#633,219
1919#2,06317#543,424
1918#2,20916#643,143
1917#2,69311#632,809
1916#3,2588#652,641
1915#3,4347#642,504
1914#2,8767#641,929
1913#2,8276#601,650
1912#2,1448#521,561
1911#1,54510#56753
1910#1,7738#53692
1909#1,6078#51595
1908#2,1015#47643
1907—#38712
1906#1,9515#38688
1905—#33834
1904—#30834
1903#1,7925#36663
1902—#34642
1901#1,4666#43450
1900—#61429
1899—#78252
1898—#75281
1897—#85215
1896—#82241
1895—#93208
1894—#81241
1893—#90209
1892—#82239
1891—#76224
1890—#89190
1889—#75231
1888—#80249
1887—#82201
1886—#69258
1885—#83199
1884—#81211
1883—#81185
1882—#75232
1881—#78178
1880—#70232
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Theodore was already there! It came in at #70, and was given to 232 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1897, when fewer than 260 boys a year got the name.

Where Theodore is popular in 1940

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedAKMaine: #75 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 355 boysMEVermont: #51 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 196 boysVTNew Hampshire: #60 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 292 boysNHWashington: #94 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 483 boysWAIdaho: #161 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 809 boysIDMontana: #61 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 262 boysMTNorth Dakota: #103 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 508 boysNDMinnesota: #69 for boys · 67 births · 1 in 357 boysMNIllinois: #74 for boys · 144 births · 1 in 409 boysILWisconsin: #67 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 359 boysWIMichigan: #74 for boys · 107 births · 1 in 430 boysMINew York: #60 for boys · 309 births · 1 in 303 boysNYMassachusetts: #53 for boys · 92 births · 1 in 334 boysMARhode Island: #60 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 328 boysRIOregon: #94 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 465 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #139 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 722 boysSDIowa: #118 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 658 boysIAIndiana: #115 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 729 boysINOhio: #75 for boys · 122 births · 1 in 444 boysOHPennsylvania: #59 for boys · 242 births · 1 in 317 boysPANew Jersey: #48 for boys · 112 births · 1 in 243 boysNJConnecticut: #49 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 237 boysCTCalifornia: #117 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 694 boysCAUtah: #186 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,107 boysUTColorado: #81 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 364 boysCONebraska: #99 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 511 boysNEMissouri: #127 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 730 boysMOKentucky: #179 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 1,190 boysKYWest Virginia: #118 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 692 boysWVVirginia: #116 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 611 boysVAMaryland: #57 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 281 boysMDDelaware: #45 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 203 boysDEArizona: #173 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 836 boysAZNew Mexico: #182 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 852 boysNMKansas: #182 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,295 boysKSArkansas: #198 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,375 boysARTennessee: #202 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,745 boysTNNorth Carolina: #98 for boys · 71 births · 1 in 521 boysNCSouth Carolina: #74 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 366 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #49 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 264 boysDCOklahoma: #184 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,184 boysOKLouisiana: #165 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 905 boysLAMississippi: #118 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 681 boysMSAlabama: #123 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 739 boysALGeorgia: #185 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,354 boysGAHawaii: #47 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 156 boysHITexas: #251 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 1,518 boysTXFlorida: #66 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 286 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Delaware#45 · 1 in 203
  2. Hawaii#47 · 1 in 156
  3. New Jersey#48 · 1 in 243
  4. Connecticut#49 · 1 in 237
  5. District of Columbia#49 · 1 in 264

Best ever in a state: #1 in New Hampshire, 2022.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Delaware#4591 in 203
Hawaii#47231 in 156
New Jersey#481121 in 243
Connecticut#49471 in 237
District of Columbia#49241 in 264
Vermont#51131 in 196
Massachusetts#53921 in 334
Maryland#57481 in 281
Pennsylvania#592421 in 317
New Hampshire#60121 in 292
New York#603091 in 303
Rhode Island#60141 in 328
Montana#61181 in 262
Florida#66541 in 286
Wisconsin#67701 in 359
Minnesota#69671 in 357
Illinois#741441 in 409
Michigan#741071 in 430
South Carolina#74581 in 366
Maine#75181 in 355
Ohio#751221 in 444
Colorado#81271 in 364
Oregon#94171 in 465
Washington#94261 in 483
North Carolina#98711 in 521
Nebraska#99191 in 511
North Dakota#103111 in 508
Indiana#115391 in 729
Virginia#116401 in 611
California#117761 in 694
Iowa#118321 in 658
Mississippi#118321 in 681
West Virginia#118281 in 692
Alabama#123391 in 739
Missouri#127401 in 730
South Dakota#13971 in 722
Idaho#16161 in 809
Louisiana#165251 in 905
Arizona#17361 in 836
Kentucky#179241 in 1,190
Kansas#182101 in 1,295
New Mexico#18271 in 852
Oklahoma#184181 in 1,184
Georgia#185231 in 1,354
Utah#18651 in 1,107
Arkansas#198141 in 1,375
Tennessee#202161 in 1,745
Texas#251411 in 1,518
Alaska———
Nevada———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Theodore
Momentum · boys
Rising
  • Held #4 since 2024
  • 19 spots since 2020 (#23 → #4)
  • 95 spots since 2015 (#99 → #4)
  • Biggest jump: 41 spots in 2014 (#167 → #126)
  • Biggest drop: 25 spots in 1999 (#289 → #314)
Rise & fade · boys
145 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 2025 at #4 (13,355 births)
  • Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 10 for 5 yrs
  • Top 10: 5 yrs · run 2021–2025
  • Top 100: 80 yrs · run 1880–1944
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 128
  • Highest: 1 in 128 boys born in 2025 were named Theodore (0.78%)
Era · boys
The 2020s
  • 20.7% of all boys named Theodore (65,579) were born in this decade
  • Comeback: #30 (1904) → #314 (1999) → #4 (2025)
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s2,176#69 (1886)#77
1890s2,300#75 (1898)#83
1900s6,490#30 (1904)#41
1910s21,106#52 (1912)#60
1920s31,287#62 (1922)#64
1930s24,957#67 (1930)#77
1940s26,249#90 (1940)#98
1950s29,050#99 (1951)#118
1960s21,288#142 (1963)#148
1970s13,567#160 (1970)#182
1980s11,958#200 (1986)#208
1990s10,113#233 (1990)#278
2000s10,556#276 (2009)#300
2010s40,530#36 (2019)#130
2020s65,579#4 (2025)#10

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Theodore in 1940

girls
#3,503
7 births · 1 in 163,361 girls
boys
#90
2,306 births · 1 in 503 boys

Top girls' names in 1940

  1. #1Mary56,216
  2. #2Barbara36,736
  3. #3Patricia32,665
  4. #4Judith22,385
  5. #5Betty22,077
  6. #6Carol21,759
  7. #7Nancy19,737
  8. #8Linda18,370
  9. #9Shirley17,881
  10. #10Sandra16,153
  11. #3,503Theodore7

Top boys' names in 1940

  1. #1James62,481
  2. #2Robert61,198
  3. #3John54,786
  4. #4William44,779
  5. #5Richard37,425
  6. #6Charles31,689
  7. #7David27,690
  8. #8Thomas23,991
  9. #9Donald23,115
  10. #10Ronald20,741
  11. #90Theodore2,306
More about 1940

girls

1,143,528 girls got a published name in 1940; 1 in 163,361 of them was named Theodore, which outranked 30.3% of the 5,028 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Theodore
  1. #3,208Zane8
  2. #3,208Zela8
  3. #3,208Zondra8
  4. #3,503Theodore7
  5. #3,503Adean7
  6. #3,503Agapita7
  7. #3,503Aleatha7
  8. #3,863Adina6
  9. #3,863Adra6
  10. #3,863Adrain6

Tied with 359 names at #3,503; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1939
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,494Scarlett#3,429 → #935
  2. ↑ 1,465Lonna#2,206 → #741
  3. ↑ 834Pam#1,797 → #963
  4. ↑ 659Jody#1,638 → #979
  5. ↑ 633Laraine#1,474 → #841
Fallers
  1. ↓ 481Fredia#996 → #1,477
  2. ↓ 430Eleanora#974 → #1,404
  3. ↓ 375Danielle#811 → #1,186
  4. ↓ 342Eloisa#930 → #1,272
  5. ↓ 298Coral#996 → #1,294

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,159,172 boys got a published name in 1940; 1 in 503 of them was named Theodore, which outranked 97.7% of the 3,937 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Theodore
  1. #87Franklin2,391
  2. #88Alan2,377
  3. #89Leon2,318
  4. #90Theodore2,306
  5. #91Gordon2,296
  6. #92Tom2,287
  7. #93Jesse2,205
Biggest movers since 1939
Risers
  1. ↑ 565Whitney#1,458 → #893
  2. ↑ 447Gonzalo#1,297 → #850
  3. ↑ 419Weston#1,323 → #904
  4. ↑ 368Ashley#1,272 → #904
  5. ↑ 366Agustin#1,238 → #872
Fallers
  1. ↓ 886Montie#916 → #1,802
  2. ↓ 446Verlon#888 → #1,334
  3. ↓ 394Issac#857 → #1,251
  4. ↓ 392Otho#942 → #1,334
  5. ↓ 384Pearl#867 → #1,251

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1940 →