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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201959boysat 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 1959

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #133 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 582 boysAKMaine: #124 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 818 boysMEVermont: #87 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 511 boysVTNew Hampshire: #127 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 864 boysNHWashington: #175 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,124 boysWAIdaho: #224 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,518 boysIDMontana: #157 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 868 boysMTNorth Dakota: #147 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 841 boysNDMinnesota: #125 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 899 boysMNIllinois: #131 for boys · 147 births · 1 in 791 boysILWisconsin: #124 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 1,012 boysWIMichigan: #121 for boys · 122 births · 1 in 791 boysMINew York: #89 for boys · 312 births · 1 in 580 boysNYMassachusetts: #94 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 830 boysMARhode Island: #75 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 556 boysRIOregon: #156 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 952 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedNVWyoming: #133 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 665 boysWYSouth Dakota: #125 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 676 boysSDIowa: #147 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,069 boysIAIndiana: #157 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 1,096 boysINOhio: #121 for boys · 145 births · 1 in 782 boysOHPennsylvania: #85 for boys · 250 births · 1 in 487 boysPANew Jersey: #88 for boys · 108 births · 1 in 568 boysNJConnecticut: #64 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 404 boysCTCalifornia: #159 for boys · 200 births · 1 in 898 boysCAUtah: #265 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,978 boysUTColorado: #192 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,253 boysCONebraska: #137 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 898 boysNEMissouri: #175 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 1,145 boysMOKentucky: #178 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,248 boysKYWest Virginia: #175 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,181 boysWVVirginia: #146 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 815 boysVAMaryland: #115 for boys · 55 births · 1 in 597 boysMDDelaware: #104 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 577 boysDEArizona: #208 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,154 boysAZNew Mexico: #177 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 889 boysNMKansas: #170 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,081 boysKSArkansas: #228 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,632 boysARTennessee: #230 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,898 boysTNNorth Carolina: #194 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 1,224 boysNCSouth Carolina: #143 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 715 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #107 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 531 boysDCOklahoma: #327 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,428 boysOKLouisiana: #211 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 1,218 boysLAMississippi: #200 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,259 boysMSAlabama: #225 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 1,602 boysALGeorgia: #279 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 2,398 boysGAHawaii: #142 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 550 boysHITexas: #338 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 2,463 boysTXFlorida: #158 for boys · 57 births · 1 in 942 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Connecticut#64 · 1 in 404
  2. Rhode Island#75 · 1 in 556
  3. Pennsylvania#85 · 1 in 487
  4. Vermont#87 · 1 in 511
  5. New Jersey#88 · 1 in 568

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Connecticut#64661 in 404
Rhode Island#75161 in 556
Pennsylvania#852501 in 487
Vermont#8781 in 511
New Jersey#881081 in 568
New York#893121 in 580
Massachusetts#94681 in 830
Delaware#10491 in 577
District of Columbia#107281 in 531
Maryland#115551 in 597
Michigan#1211221 in 791
Ohio#1211451 in 782
Maine#124131 in 818
Wisconsin#124471 in 1,012
Minnesota#125471 in 899
South Dakota#125121 in 676
New Hampshire#12771 in 864
Illinois#1311471 in 791
Alaska#13351 in 582
Wyoming#13351 in 665
Nebraska#137181 in 898
Hawaii#142131 in 550
South Carolina#143401 in 715
Virginia#146531 in 815
Iowa#147291 in 1,069
North Dakota#14791 in 841
Oregon#156181 in 952
Indiana#157501 in 1,096
Montana#15791 in 868
Florida#158571 in 942
California#1592001 in 898
Kansas#170221 in 1,081
Missouri#175431 in 1,145
Washington#175281 in 1,124
West Virginia#175171 in 1,181
New Mexico#177151 in 889
Kentucky#178291 in 1,248
Colorado#192171 in 1,253
North Carolina#194431 in 1,224
Mississippi#200221 in 1,259
Arizona#208141 in 1,154
Louisiana#211351 in 1,218
Idaho#22451 in 1,518
Alabama#225241 in 1,602
Arkansas#228121 in 1,632
Tennessee#230211 in 1,898
Utah#26561 in 1,978
Georgia#279201 in 2,398
Oklahoma#32771 in 3,428
Texas#338501 in 2,463
Nevada———

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 1959

girls
#4,625
8 births · 1 in 252,933 girls
boys
#146
2,399 births · 1 in 890 boys

Top girls' names in 1959

  1. #1Mary54,502
  2. #2Susan41,617
  3. #3Linda40,410
  4. #4Karen36,784
  5. #5Donna36,468
  6. #6Patricia35,223
  7. #7Debra31,388
  8. #8Cynthia30,186
  9. #9Deborah29,546
  10. #10Lisa25,699
  11. #4,625Theodore8

Top boys' names in 1959

  1. #1Michael85,294
  2. #2David83,977
  3. #3James78,648
  4. #4John76,446
  5. #5Robert74,542
  6. #6Mark56,945
  7. #7William51,386
  8. #8Richard47,202
  9. #9Thomas40,296
  10. #10Steven33,597
  11. #146Theodore2,399
More about 1959

girls

2,023,462 girls got a published name in 1959; 1 in 252,933 of them was named Theodore, which outranked 35.8% of the 7,202 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Theodore
  1. #4,300Ylonda9
  2. #4,300Yolander9
  3. #4,300Yolette9
  4. #4,625Theodore8
  5. #4,625Adel8
  6. #4,625Adraine8
  7. #4,625Adriann8
  8. #5,031Adora7
  9. #5,031Adrain7
  10. #5,031Adrena7

Tied with 405 names at #4,625; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1958
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,090Alesia#1,985 → #895
  2. ↑ 948Tori#1,791 → #843
  3. ↑ 440Taryn#1,211 → #771
  4. ↑ 437Venus#1,007 → #570
  5. ↑ 393Vilma#1,364 → #971
Fallers
  1. ↓ 283Dani#961 → #1,244
  2. ↓ 257Nicki#973 → #1,230
  3. ↓ 235Lanita#973 → #1,208
  4. ↓ 219Concetta#973 → #1,192
  5. ↓ 197Gisele#766 → #963

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

boys

2,134,518 boys got a published name in 1959; 1 in 890 of them was named Theodore, which outranked 96.8% of the 4,572 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 29.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Theodore
  1. #143Kelly2,438
  2. #144Reginald2,422
  3. #145Kirk2,407
  4. #146Theodore2,399
  5. #147Clarence2,380
  6. #148Karl2,354
  7. #149Brad2,347
Biggest movers since 1958
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,208Efrem#3,033 → #825
  2. ↑ 901Darin#1,677 → #776
  3. ↑ 871Yancy#1,557 → #686
  4. ↑ 708Raynard#1,677 → #969
  5. ↑ 644Darrin#1,396 → #752
Fallers
  1. ↓ 307Jace#761 → #1,068
  2. ↓ 241Otha#915 → #1,156
  3. ↓ 234Cheryl#994 → #1,228
  4. ↓ 230Dann#969 → #1,199
  5. ↓ 227Carnell#777 → #1,004

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

See the top 100 for 1959 →