Tod Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Todd //tɒd//
Origin: English; Scottish
Meaning: English: fox; Scottish: a diminutive of Todd
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Tod has its roots in the Old English word "todde," which means "fox." This term is believed to have derived from the Proto-Germanic *tudwaz, which also referred to a fox, and it is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as the Old High German "zod" and the Middle Dutch "todde." The transition of the name into English likely occurred during the early medieval period, as Old English evolved into Middle English, with the name being used both as a surname and a given name. Historically, the name Tod has been associated with various notable figures and events.
One significant milestone is its appearance in English literature during the Middle Ages, where the fox often symbolized cunning and cleverness. The name has also been linked to various saints and biblical figures, although specific instances are less prominent compared to other names.
In the 14th century, the name began to appear in written records, indicating its use in the vernacular of the time. Culturally, the name Tod carries connotations of agility and intelligence, traits often attributed to the fox in folklore and fables.
This symbolic association has contributed to the name's endurance over the centuries. Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Teddy" or "Tad" have emerged, although they are not directly derived from Tod.
The name's simplicity and strong phonetic qualities have allowed it to maintain a presence in various cultural contexts, reflecting the enduring human fascination with animal symbolism in naming practices.
Famous people named Tod
In this section, you will find notable people named Tod. 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 Tod who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Tod 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.
Tod Browning is a director best known for Dracula, Freaks, and The Unholy Three.
Tod Williams is a director and screenwriter best known for The Door in the Floor, Paranormal Activity 2, and The Last House on the Left.
Fictional characters named Tod
The following list of fictional characters named Tod 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.
Tod is a fictional character from the animated film The Fox and the Hound. He is a young fox who befriends a hound dog named Copper, highlighting themes of friendship and loyalty despite societal expectations.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tod, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Tod. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Tod was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Tod has ranked as high as #663 nationally, which occurred in 1962, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Illinois, New York, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Tod has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tod 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 Tod was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Tod (1994)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| OH | 7 |
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 Tod.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 1999 | 12 |
| 1998 | 20 |
| 1997 | 16 |
| 1996 | 26 |
| 1995 | 21 |
| 1994 | 30 |
| 1993 | 24 |
| 1992 | 16 |
| 1991 | 22 |
| 1990 | 32 |
| 1989 | 33 |
| 1988 | 30 |
| 1987 | 28 |
| 1986 | 29 |
| 1985 | 21 |
| 1984 | 47 |
| 1983 | 32 |
| 1982 | 49 |
| 1981 | 50 |
| 1980 | 41 |
| 1979 | 37 |
| 1978 | 55 |
| 1977 | 51 |
| 1976 | 65 |
| 1975 | 63 |
| 1974 | 95 |
| 1973 | 133 |
| 1972 | 152 |
| 1971 | 205 |
| 1970 | 284 |
| 1969 | 294 |
| 1968 | 302 |
| 1967 | 303 |
| 1966 | 277 |
| 1965 | 337 |
| 1964 | 543 |
| 1963 | 558 |
| 1962 | 568 |
| 1961 | 507 |
| 1960 | 307 |
| 1959 | 265 |
| 1958 | 297 |
| 1957 | 186 |
| 1956 | 144 |
| 1955 | 148 |
| 1954 | 107 |
| 1953 | 90 |
| 1952 | 92 |
| 1951 | 62 |
| 1950 | 60 |
| 1949 | 38 |
| 1948 | 37 |
| 1947 | 37 |
| 1946 | 25 |
| 1945 | 20 |
| 1944 | 23 |
| 1943 | 37 |
| 1942 | 22 |
| 1941 | 24 |
| 1940 | 30 |
| 1939 | 16 |
| 1938 | 15 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1936 | 11 |
| 1934 | 5 |
| 1933 | 9 |
| 1931 | 5 |
| 1930 | 5 |
| 1929 | 8 |
| 1926 | 5 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1923 | 5 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1918 | 5 |
| 1915 | 12 |