Ted Boy

Popularity: #901 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ted /tɛd/

Origin: English; German

Meaning: English: Gift of God; German: Brave people

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ted is derived from the Old English name "Þeodoric," which itself originates from the Proto-Germanic elements "þeud," meaning "people," and "ric," meaning "ruler" or "power." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, including Old High German as "Theodoric" and Latin as "Theodoricus," before being shortened to Ted in English. The transition into English occurred during the medieval period, as names were often adapted and simplified for ease of use in everyday language.

Historically, the name Ted has been associated with several notable figures, most prominently Saint Theodore of Amasea, a Christian martyr from the 4th century, who was venerated in both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions. The name gained further prominence through the medieval period, particularly with the popularity of the name Theodoric among various European monarchs, including Theodoric the Great, the king of the Ostrogoths in the 5th century, who played a significant role in the history of Italy and the Roman Empire.

Culturally, the name Ted has been linked to themes of leadership and nobility due to its etymological roots. It has often been used in literature and folklore to symbolize strength and authority.

The diminutive form Ted is commonly associated with Theodore, which has also been a popular name in various cultures, further enhancing the name's historical resonance. The enduring legacy of Ted reflects a blend of historical significance and cultural symbolism, making it a name with deep roots in European history.

Famous people named Ted

In this section, you will find notable people named Ted. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Ted who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Ted who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Ted Danson is an actor best known for Cheers, Becker, and The Good Place.

Ted Williams is a former professional baseball player best known for his time with the Boston Red Sox and being a two-time MVP.

Ted Kaczynski is a former mathematics professor best known for being the Unabomber.

Ted Nugent is a musician best known for his work with the band Amboy Dukes and his solo career, particularly the song Cat Scratch Fever.

Ted Lasso is a fictional character best known as the titular character in the television series Ted Lasso.

Fictional characters named Ted

The following list of fictional characters named Ted is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Ted is a fictional character from the film Ted. He is a talking teddy bear who comes to life and is known for his crude humor and wild antics.

Ted Lasso is a fictional character from the TV series Ted Lasso. He is an American football coach hired to manage a struggling English soccer team, bringing optimism and kindness to his players.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ted, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

TomTimTroyTobiasTateTanner

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ted. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

TadTeddyTheoTobiasTalonTannerTroyTobin

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ted was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Ted has ranked as high as #369 nationally, which occurred in 1958, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, and Michigan.

In the past 5 years the name Ted has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Ted is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Ted was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Ted.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 37 37 0
2024 44 44 0
2023 43 43 0
2022 41 41 0
2021 38 38 0
2020 35 35 0
2019 55 55 0
2018 49 49 0
2017 56 56 0
2016 56 56 0
2015 48 48 0
2014 59 59 0
2013 73 73 0
2012 67 67 0
2011 66 66 0
2010 81 81 0
2009 53 53 0
2008 75 75 0
2007 61 61 0
2006 59 59 0
2005 75 75 0
2004 72 72 0
2003 74 74 0
2002 99 99 0
2001 99 99 0
2000 97 97 0
1999 112 112 0
1998 106 106 0
1997 127 127 0
1996 135 135 0
1995 150 150 0
1994 163 163 0
1993 179 179 0
1992 188 188 0
1991 177 177 0
1990 249 249 0
1989 268 268 0
1988 290 290 0
1987 282 282 0
1986 298 298 0
1985 267 267 0
1984 288 288 0
1983 299 299 0
1982 317 317 0
1981 339 339 0
1980 370 364 6
1979 354 354 0
1978 361 361 0
1977 417 417 0
1976 432 432 0
1975 455 455 0
1974 478 478 0
1973 543 543 0
1972 669 664 5
1971 809 802 7
1970 944 944 0
1969 1,063 1,058 5
1968 1,047 1,047 0
1967 963 953 10
1966 1,075 1,075 0
1965 1,243 1,243 0
1964 1,507 1,507 0
1963 1,583 1,578 5
1962 1,701 1,701 0
1961 1,688 1,683 5
1960 1,695 1,695 0
1959 1,672 1,672 0
1958 1,748 1,743 5
1957 1,636 1,636 0
1956 1,462 1,457 5
1955 1,409 1,409 0
1954 1,348 1,343 5
1953 1,305 1,305 0
1952 1,412 1,412 0
1951 1,392 1,387 5
1950 1,355 1,355 0
1949 1,384 1,379 5
1948 1,476 1,476 0
1947 1,647 1,647 0
1946 1,490 1,490 0
1945 1,238 1,238 0
1944 1,174 1,166 8
1943 1,243 1,236 7
1942 1,257 1,252 5
1941 1,096 1,096 0
1940 1,047 1,047 0
1939 1,085 1,079 6
1938 1,111 1,111 0
1937 1,062 1,062 0
1936 1,071 1,064 7
1935 1,091 1,085 6
1934 1,052 1,052 0
1933 1,049 1,040 9
1932 1,076 1,067 9
1931 989 983 6
1930 989 983 6
1929 863 853 10
1928 838 826 12
1927 772 762 10
1926 777 764 13
1925 670 670 0
1924 621 610 11
1923 599 592 7
1922 611 606 5
1921 624 614 10
1920 552 545 7
1919 582 572 10
1918 572 564 8
1917 508 498 10
1916 462 453 9
1915 403 403 0
1914 309 309 0
1913 247 247 0
1912 244 244 0
1911 97 97 0
1910 127 127 0
1909 122 122 0
1908 113 113 0
1907 112 112 0
1906 89 89 0
1905 120 115 5
1904 94 94 0
1903 71 71 0
1902 87 87 0
1901 64 64 0
1900 75 75 0
1899 34 34 0
1898 39 39 0
1897 28 28 0
1896 30 30 0
1895 24 24 0
1894 23 23 0
1893 12 12 0
1892 15 15 0
1891 22 22 0
1890 20 20 0
1889 25 25 0
1888 21 21 0
1887 20 20 0
1886 10 10 0
1885 10 10 0
1884 10 10 0
1883 13 13 0
1882 14 14 0
1881 7 7 0
1880 13 13 0

Top States for Ted (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 7
50%
TX 7
50%