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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201988boysat 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 1988

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #104 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 480 boysAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedMEVermont: #97 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 471 boysVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedNHWashington: #198 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,482 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedIDMontana: #128 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 577 boysMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #116 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 786 boysMNIllinois: #196 for boys · 67 births · 1 in 1,246 boysILWisconsin: #140 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 1,080 boysWIMichigan: #146 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 1,010 boysMINew York: #159 for boys · 113 births · 1 in 1,148 boysNYMassachusetts: #148 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 1,257 boysMARhode Island: #142 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,052 boysRIOregon: #145 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 966 boysORNevada: #193 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,201 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #156 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 941 boysSDIowa: #161 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,179 boysIAIndiana: #191 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 1,616 boysINOhio: #160 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 1,261 boysOHPennsylvania: #143 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 1,164 boysPANew Jersey: #145 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 1,095 boysNJConnecticut: #133 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 944 boysCTCalifornia: #265 for boys · 126 births · 1 in 2,002 boysCAUtah: #240 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,807 boysUTColorado: #154 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 966 boysCONebraska: #157 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,088 boysNEMissouri: #156 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 1,106 boysMOKentucky: #248 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,624 boysKYWest Virginia: #210 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,069 boysWVVirginia: #209 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,486 boysVAMaryland: #167 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,179 boysMDDelaware: #127 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 737 boysDEArizona: #224 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,402 boysAZNew Mexico: #200 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,039 boysNMKansas: #238 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,853 boysKSArkansas: #332 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,939 boysARTennessee: #244 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,991 boysTNNorth Carolina: #252 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,978 boysNCSouth Carolina: #227 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,405 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #144 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 692 boysDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #345 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,429 boysLAMississippi: #412 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,277 boysMSAlabama: #365 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,228 boysALGeorgia: #202 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 1,262 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Theodore, so not publishedHITexas: #420 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 3,695 boysTXFlorida: #219 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 1,385 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Vermont#97 · 1 in 471
  2. Alaska#104 · 1 in 480
  3. Minnesota#116 · 1 in 786
  4. Delaware#127 · 1 in 737
  5. Montana#128 · 1 in 577

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Vermont#9771 in 471
Alaska#10491 in 480
Minnesota#116391 in 786
Delaware#12761 in 737
Montana#12881 in 577
Connecticut#133231 in 944
Wisconsin#140301 in 1,080
Rhode Island#14261 in 1,052
Pennsylvania#143681 in 1,164
District of Columbia#144121 in 692
New Jersey#145471 in 1,095
Oregon#145191 in 966
Michigan#146641 in 1,010
Massachusetts#148331 in 1,257
Colorado#154251 in 966
Missouri#156331 in 1,106
South Dakota#15651 in 941
Nebraska#157101 in 1,088
New York#1591131 in 1,148
Ohio#160611 in 1,261
Iowa#161151 in 1,179
Maryland#167261 in 1,179
Indiana#191241 in 1,616
Nevada#19361 in 1,201
Illinois#196671 in 1,246
Washington#198221 in 1,482
New Mexico#200111 in 1,039
Georgia#202371 in 1,262
Virginia#209271 in 1,486
West Virginia#21051 in 2,069
Florida#219611 in 1,385
Arizona#224211 in 1,402
South Carolina#227161 in 1,405
Kansas#23891 in 1,853
Utah#24091 in 1,807
Tennessee#244171 in 1,991
Kentucky#24891 in 2,624
North Carolina#252221 in 1,978
California#2651261 in 2,002
Arkansas#33251 in 2,939
Louisiana#345131 in 2,429
Alabama#36581 in 3,228
Mississippi#41251 in 3,277
Texas#420391 in 3,695
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Oklahoma———
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 1988

girls
#7,691
9 births · 1 in 197,873 girls
boys
#211
1,239 births · 1 in 1,545 boys

Top girls' names in 1988

  1. #1Jessica51,556
  2. #2Ashley49,977
  3. #3Amanda39,459
  4. #4Sarah28,374
  5. #5Jennifer27,893
  6. #6Brittany26,816
  7. #7Stephanie22,843
  8. #8Samantha20,700
  9. #9Nicole20,315
  10. #10Elizabeth20,042
  11. #7,691Theodore9

Top boys' names in 1988

  1. #1Michael64,171
  2. #2Christopher53,014
  3. #3Matthew45,876
  4. #4Joshua42,653
  5. #5Andrew35,745
  6. #6David35,329
  7. #7Justin35,055
  8. #8Daniel34,718
  9. #9James32,523
  10. #10Robert30,319
  11. #211Theodore1,239
More about 1988

girls

1,780,854 girls got a published name in 1988; 1 in 197,873 of them was named Theodore, which outranked 44.6% of the 13,883 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Theodore
  1. #7,111Zarina10
  2. #7,111Zoua10
  3. #7,111Zoya10
  4. #7,691Theodore9
  5. #7,691Abeni9
  6. #7,691Abiola9
  7. #7,691Adonica9
  8. #8,391Aarin8
  9. #8,391Aarti8
  10. #8,391Abriel8

Tied with 699 names at #7,691; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1987
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,890Jalissa#3,857 → #967
  2. ↑ 2,381Taja#3,101 → #720
  3. ↑ 1,710Whitley#2,156 → #446
  4. ↑ 1,225Jalisa#1,662 → #437
  5. ↑ 883Jaleesa#1,227 → #344
Fallers
  1. ↓ 620Channing#590 → #1,210
  2. ↓ 346Denisse#954 → #1,300
  3. ↓ 319Jeana#966 → #1,285
  4. ↓ 314Eliana#826 → #1,140
  5. ↓ 311Nakia#893 → #1,204

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

boys

1,914,283 boys got a published name in 1988; 1 in 1,545 of them was named Theodore, which outranked 97.5% of the 8,495 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 21.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Theodore
  1. #208Jaime1,256
  2. #209Wayne1,242
  3. #210Terrence1,241
  4. #211Theodore1,239
  5. #212Raul1,235
  6. #213Geoffrey1,231
  7. #213Xavier1,231
Biggest movers since 1987
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,252Nico#4,239 → #987
  2. ↑ 1,245Ridge#2,215 → #970
  3. ↑ 668Colten#1,484 → #816
  4. ↑ 600Brantley#1,587 → #987
  5. ↑ 518Long#1,337 → #819
Fallers
  1. ↓ 362Cordaro#908 → #1,270
  2. ↓ 246Ramsey#884 → #1,130
  3. ↓ 241Yaakov#974 → #1,215
  4. ↓ 233Adrain#990 → #1,223
  5. ↓ 230Kiel#846 → #1,076

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

See the top 100 for 1988 →