Theodor
Boy name · #1994 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Theodor? In official American birth records, Theodor has been tracked continuously since 1884, giving it 141 years of documented American history.
Theodor ranks #1994 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 76 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2386, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 23,684 boys born in 2025 was named Theodor.
The 141-year story
Theodor first appears in the Social Security records in 1884, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2022, with 88 babies and a rank of #1826. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Theodor per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Theodor against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Theodor in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Theodor is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Theodor will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Theodor is most common
State-level data for Theodor is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Theodor
Statistically, parents drawn to Theodor tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Teodor, Saylor, Honor, Sailor, and Savior.
TeodorSaylorHonorSailorSaviorAlisterAbubakrTamir
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Theodor | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 76 | #1992 |
| 2024 | 71 | #2098 |
| 2023 | 86 | #1851 |
| 2022 | 88 | #1826 |
| 2021 | 70 | #2079 |
| 2020 | 79 | #1872 |
| 2019 | 85 | #1805 |
| 2018 | 65 | #2147 |
| 2017 | 54 | #2388 |
| 2016 | 62 | #2184 |
| 2015 | 54 | #2386 |
| 2014 | 56 | #2317 |
| 2013 | 45 | #2623 |
| 2012 | 20 | #4686 |
| 2011 | 25 | #3994 |
| 2010 | 26 | #3894 |
| 2009 | 21 | #4582 |
| 2008 | 20 | #4714 |
| 2007 | 21 | #4493 |
| 2006 | 16 | #5303 |
| 2005 | 22 | #4062 |
| 2004 | 18 | #4602 |
| 2003 | 12 | #5877 |
| 2002 | 24 | #3554 |
| 2001 | 16 | #4676 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Theodor?
In official American birth records, the name Theodor first appeared in 1884 (over 141 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Theodor a popular boy name?
Theodor ranked #1994 among boys in 2025 with 76 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2386.
When was the name Theodor most popular?
Theodor peaked in 2022, when 88 American boys received the name (ranked #1826 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Theodor?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 23,684 newborn American boys was named Theodor. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.