Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Ted
BoyEnglish· “short form of Edward or Theodore”
- Meaning
- short form of Edward or Theodore
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- TED
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #3,229
- US babies 2025
- 37
- Best rank
- #144 (1935)
- Peak year
- 1958
Meaning and origin of Ted
Ted is an English name that means “short form of Edward or Theodore”.
Ted is an English short form of Edward, and it is also used for Theodore. Edward comes from Old English, combining ead, "wealth" or "fortune," with weard, "guardian." Theodore is Greek for "gift of God." The use of Ted for Edward follows an old English habit of turning Ed into Ned and Ted, as Molly came from Mary. The teddy bear takes its name from Theodore Roosevelt, who was called Teddy, which ties the nickname to both parent names. Said simply TED, it has a warm, unpretentious feel. Many parents now choose it as a vintage full name, in the same spirit as Alfie, Ned and Jack.
Popularity over time
Ted has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 117 different years. Its best national rank was #144 in 1935, and the most babies received it in 1958, when 1,743 were named Ted. In 2025, 37 babies were named Ted, and it ranked #3,229 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #231 in 1920, #170 in 1950, #430 in 1980, #1,333 in 2000, #1,814 in 2010, and #3,229 in 2025. Of the 75,160 US boys named Ted since records began, 20% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 13,540 babies. Since 2010, 848 more have been named Ted.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Bret, Randal, Neal, Guy, and Nelson.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ted ranked highest in New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #1736 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Ted is usually pronounced TED, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with T and ends in “-ed”.
Middle names for Ted
A few middle names that flow with Ted: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ted
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Lists that include Ted
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ted mean?
Ted is an English name that means “short form of Edward or Theodore”.
What is the origin of the name Ted?
Ted has English roots. Ted is an English short form of Edward, and it is also used for Theodore.
Is Ted a popular name?
Not especially. Ted ranked #3,229 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Ted a boy or girl name?
Ted is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Ted?
Ted is usually pronounced TED. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings