Teddy
Teddy is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Gift of God; wealthy guardian.
Origin and history
Teddy originated as a familiar diminutive for Theodore and Edward, but it is now frequently bestowed as an independent given name. Derived ultimately from Greek roots meaning 'gift of God', it carries a warm and friendly character. In the United States, it has enjoyed enduring popularity both as a nickname and a stand-alone birth name.
Popularity in the United States
33,627 babies in the United States have been named Teddy since 1880. It ranks #632 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #938.
States where it is most popular
- NY (8.3 %)
- TX (8 %)
- CA (7.2 %)
- TN (5.4 %)
- IL (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 18 |
| 1900-1910 | 159 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,174 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,967 |
| 1930-1940 | 4,385 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,145 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,416 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,280 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,009 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,950 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,211 |
| 2000-2010 | 779 |
| 2010-2019 | 830 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,304 |
Famous people named Teddy
- Teddy Pendergrass: Singer, Songwriter
- Teddy Bridgewater: Athlete
- Teddy Sheringham: Athlete, Manager
Nicknames
Ted
Fun facts
- The nickname became immortalized through U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who inspired the creation of the teddy bear.
- While historically a nickname, Teddy has been registered as an official given name on U.S. birth certificates for over a century.