Theodore
Every Theodore since 1880 — 318,175 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Theodore
Theodore is a top-10 name for boys in the United States, ranked #4 in 2025 with 13,355 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 318,175 American babies have been named Theodore. Its peak came in 2025, when 13,362 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Theodore stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Theodore 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 | 7 | #13,074 | 13,355 | #4 |
| 2024 | 13 | #8,393 | 12,069 | #4 |
| 2023 | 11 | #9,549 | 11,093 | #7 |
| 2022 | 15 | #7,603 | 10,824 | #10 |
| 2021 | 8 | #12,105 | 9,600 | #10 |
| 2020 | 14 | #7,925 | 8,638 | #23 |
| 2019 | 7 | #13,689 | 7,896 | #36 |
| 2018 | — | — | 7,088 | #44 |
| 2017 | — | — | 5,973 | #61 |
| 2016 | 7 | #14,209 | 4,910 | #83 |
| 2015 | — | — | 4,155 | #99 |
| 2014 | — | — | 3,228 | #126 |
| 2013 | — | — | 2,429 | #167 |
| 2012 | 5 | #19,300 | 1,945 | #194 |
| 2011 | — | — | 1,573 | #230 |
| 2010 | — | — | 1,333 | #259 |
| 2009 | — | — | 1,239 | #276 |
| 2008 | — | — | 1,139 | #294 |
| 2007 | — | — | 1,137 | #301 |
| 2006 | — | — | 1,133 | #295 |
| 2005 | — | — | 1,095 | #299 |
| 2004 | — | — | 1,005 | #313 |
| 2003 | — | — | 964 | #309 |
| 2002 | — | — | 975 | #300 |
| 2001 | — | — | 935 | #306 |
| 2000 | — | — | 934 | #312 |
| 1995 | — | — | 956 | #284 |
| 1990 | — | — | 1,231 | #233 |
| 1985 | 16 | #4,842 | 1,211 | #201 |
| 1980 | 6 | #10,288 | 1,194 | #206 |
| 1975 | 5 | #10,475 | 1,197 | #189 |
| 1970 | 8 | #6,321 | 1,829 | #160 |
| 1965 | 7 | #5,763 | 2,140 | #143 |
| 1960 | 11 | #4,153 | 2,382 | #149 |
| 1955 | 7 | #5,158 | 2,976 | #120 |
| 1950 | 8 | #4,285 | 2,960 | #99 |
| 1945 | 6 | #4,508 | 2,347 | #101 |
| 1940 | 7 | #3,832 | 2,306 | #90 |
| 1935 | 6 | #4,159 | 2,433 | #79 |
| 1930 | 20 | #1,864 | 2,958 | #67 |
| 1925 | 15 | #2,474 | 3,226 | #63 |
| 1920 | 16 | #2,350 | 3,219 | #63 |
| 1915 | 7 | #3,760 | 2,504 | #64 |
| 1910 | 8 | #1,914 | 692 | #54 |
| 1905 | — | — | 834 | #33 |
| 1900 | — | — | 429 | #61 |
| 1895 | — | — | 208 | #93 |
| 1890 | — | — | 190 | #89 |
| 1885 | — | — | 199 | #84 |
| 1880 | — | — | 232 | #70 |
Famous people named Theodore
- Theodore Roosevelt Politician · 1858–1919
- Theodore of Amasea Religious figure · 300–306
- Theodore I Laskaris Politician · 1174–1221
- Theodore Dreiser Writer · 1871–1945
- Theodore II Laskaris Politician · 1221–1258
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Theodore in 2025?
Theodore ranked #4 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 13,355 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Theodore?
318,175 babies have been named Theodore in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Theodore most popular?
Theodore peaked in 2025, when 13,362 newborns received the name.
Is Theodore a boy or girl name?
Theodore is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Theodore rising or falling?
Theodore is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Theodore?
Well-known people named Theodore include Theodore Roosevelt (politician), Theodore of Amasea (religious figure), Theodore I Laskaris (politician).