Ted
Meaning
diminutive of Theodore, gift of god
The formal names behind Ted
Ted is an established short form of each of these names.
Theodore · Greek origin · gift of God
Edward · Germanic origin · wealthy guardian
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Ted peaked in the 1920s and the 1960s in nearly equal measure.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
589 people · the #11,958 first name in Brazil · about 1 in 333,333 · median age 38
Among people named Ted living in Brazil at the 2022 census, more were born in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Ted
Most people given the name Ted in the United States were born between 1950 and 1979. The Ted you meet today is most often in his 50s or 60s.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Ted deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Ted truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Ted fits with your family’s names and surname.
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