Teddy
A diminutive of the male given names Edward and Theodore, or of their diminutives Ted and Tedd.
Every Teddy since 1890 — 35,402 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Teddy
Teddy is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #823 in 2025 with 301 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1890, 35,402 American babies have been named Teddy — about 95% boys and 5% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1949, when 637 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Teddy stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Teddy year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 56 | #2,994 | 301 | #823 |
| 2024 | 45 | #3,507 | 265 | #895 |
| 2023 | 62 | #2,785 | 222 | #996 |
| 2022 | 44 | #3,588 | 212 | #1,043 |
| 2021 | 38 | #3,931 | 169 | #1,169 |
| 2020 | 27 | #4,866 | 135 | #1,334 |
| 2019 | 28 | #4,893 | 121 | #1,449 |
| 2018 | 18 | #6,760 | 99 | #1,647 |
| 2017 | 12 | #9,295 | 97 | #1,641 |
| 2016 | 14 | #8,354 | 84 | #1,808 |
| 2015 | 9 | #11,752 | 91 | #1,716 |
| 2014 | 19 | #6,684 | 72 | #1,995 |
| 2013 | 10 | #10,936 | 65 | #2,088 |
| 2012 | 7 | #14,846 | 63 | #2,151 |
| 2011 | 12 | #9,673 | 69 | #1,998 |
| 2010 | — | — | 69 | #2,005 |
| 2009 | — | — | 80 | #1,849 |
| 2008 | — | — | 73 | #1,966 |
| 2007 | 5 | #20,298 | 73 | #1,944 |
| 2006 | — | — | 78 | #1,785 |
| 2005 | 6 | #16,263 | 77 | #1,739 |
| 2004 | 5 | #18,575 | 68 | #1,831 |
| 2003 | — | — | 79 | #1,610 |
| 2002 | 5 | #17,863 | 76 | #1,607 |
| 2001 | 8 | #11,958 | 86 | #1,450 |
| 2000 | — | — | 89 | #1,407 |
| 1995 | 16 | #5,924 | 95 | #1,191 |
| 1990 | — | — | 165 | #792 |
| 1985 | 5 | #12,324 | 149 | #725 |
| 1980 | — | — | 251 | #542 |
| 1975 | 10 | #5,950 | 277 | #482 |
| 1970 | 7 | #6,996 | 377 | #422 |
| 1965 | 8 | #5,251 | 524 | #329 |
| 1960 | 14 | #3,497 | 591 | #321 |
| 1955 | 23 | #2,336 | 486 | #337 |
| 1950 | 27 | #1,867 | 549 | #289 |
| 1945 | 45 | #1,184 | 472 | #276 |
| 1940 | 28 | #1,469 | 451 | #263 |
| 1935 | 20 | #1,772 | 414 | #267 |
| 1930 | 13 | #2,541 | 417 | #278 |
| 1925 | 18 | #2,182 | 262 | #367 |
| 1920 | 7 | #4,343 | 238 | #387 |
| 1915 | 5 | #4,881 | 132 | #486 |
| 1910 | — | — | 23 | #619 |
| 1905 | 5 | #2,201 | 21 | #505 |
| 1900 | — | — | 16 | #646 |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | 6 | #986 |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Teddy
- Teddy Scholten Singer · 1926–2010
- Teddy Kollek Politician · 1911–2007
- Teddy Wilson Musician · 1912–1986
- Teddy Mayer Businessperson · 1935–2009
- Teddy Sheringham Soccer player · b. 1966
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Teddy mean?
A diminutive of the male given names Edward and Theodore, or of their diminutives Ted and Tedd.
How popular is the name Teddy in 2025?
Teddy ranked #823 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 301 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Teddy?
35,402 babies have been named Teddy in the United States since 1890, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Teddy most popular?
Teddy peaked in 1949, when 637 newborns received the name.
Is Teddy a boy or girl name?
Teddy is used for both: about 5% of babies named Teddy have been girls and 95% boys.
Is the name Teddy rising or falling?
Teddy is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Teddy?
Well-known people named Teddy include Teddy Scholten (singer), Teddy Kollek (politician), Teddy Wilson (musician).