Teddy
Teddy was the 823rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 301 babies. Its best year was 1933, when it ranked 239th; the most babies were born in 1949 (613). Over the last ten years it has moved up 893 places. More babies were named Teddy in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning pet form of Edward or Theodore · English, Old English, Greek
Say it TED-ee /ˈtɛdi/
- Rank in 2025
- #823 boys, up 511 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 301boys
- Girls and boys
- 17% girls, 83% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1949613 babies
- Total since 1880
- 35,402babies recorded
What does the name Teddy mean?
Teddy is a pet form of Ted, and so of Edward and Theodore. Edward is Old English, from ēad, "riches", and weard, "guard"; Theodore is Greek, "gift of God". The teddy bear took its name from President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt in the early 1900s. Teddy was most common in the US in the 1930s and has come back into fashion as a short form in recent years.
ēad + weard (Old English, “riches + guard (Edward)”)θεός + δῶρον (Ancient Greek, “god + gift (Theodore)”)
How sure is this? Well established. Teddy carries the meaning of the full name it shortens.
Related names: Ted, Edward, Theodore, Theo.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Teddy', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Edward', DMNES (Durham University)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Theodore', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Teddy', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Teddy popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,994 | #823 | 56 | 301 |
| 2020 | #4,866 | #1,334 | 27 | 135 |
| 2010 | — | #2,005 | — | 69 |
| 2000 | — | #1,407 | — | 89 |
| 1990 | — | #792 | — | 165 |
| 1980 | — | #542 | — | 251 |
| 1970 | #6,996 | #422 | 7 | 377 |
| 1960 | #3,497 | #321 | 14 | 591 |
| 1950 | #1,867 | #289 | 27 | 549 |
| 1940 | #1,469 | #263 | 28 | 451 |
| 1930 | #2,541 | #278 | 13 | 417 |
| 1920 | #4,343 | #387 | 7 | 238 |
| 1910 | — | #619 | — | 23 |
| 1900 | — | #646 | — | 16 |
| 1890 | — | #986 | — | 6 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Teddy, counting every spelling?
Teddy is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #803 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #823 for Teddy on its own. Together these spellings went to 301 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teddy | 301 | #823 | 1,169 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Teddy?
301 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Teddy (0.08 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Teddy born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 28 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Teddy.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Teddy?
About 19,200 people born in the US named Teddy are alive today, with a median age of 59; half are between 41 and 70. That makes Teddy a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Teddy by state
How common Teddy was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Utah (2.9×), Massachusetts (2.6×), Oklahoma (1.7×), Minnesota (1.5×), New York (1.5×). In 20 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Teddy: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Teddy, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Teddy · Sibling names for Teddy
Teddy is also a nickname for Theodore, Edward and Ted.
Questions about the name Teddy
What does Teddy mean?
Teddy means “pet form of Edward or Theodore” (English, Old English, Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Teddy?
Teddy was the 823rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 301 babies. Its best year was 1933, when it ranked 239th; the most babies were born in 1949 (613). Over the last ten years it has moved up 893 places. More babies were named Teddy in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Teddy a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 17% girls, 83% boys given the name Teddy in the US.
Where is Teddy most popular?
In 2021–2025, Teddy was most common in Utah (0.40 per 1,000 boys), followed by Massachusetts and Iowa.