Teddy Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Teddy is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Teddy?
Teddy is spelled T-E-D-D-Y. The name has 5 letters.
Teddy at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Teddy is a diminutive form of the name Theodore, which means “gift of God.”
- Origin
- Teddy is commonly used as a familiar or affectionate short form derived from Theodore and sometimes Edward.
- Pronunciation
- TED-ee · 2 syllables
Teddy Popularity in 2025
Rank#2,957
Recorded Births56
Rank#819
Recorded Births301
- Girls usage rose 502 places to #2,957 and recorded 11 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 72 places to #819 and recorded 36 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Teddy Mean?
Teddy is a diminutive form of the name Theodore, which means “gift of God.”
Origin: Teddy is commonly used as a familiar or affectionate short form derived from Theodore and sometimes Edward.
How Do You Pronounce Teddy?
PronunciationTED-ee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Teddy?
- History
- Teddy has been used as a nickname in English-speaking countries and is often associated with informal or affectionate speech.
Teddy Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 56 | #2,957 |
| 2025 | Boys | 301 | #819 |
| 2024 | Girls | 45 | #3,459 |
| 2024 | Boys | 265 | #891 |
| 2023 | Girls | 62 | #2,757 |
| 2023 | Boys | 222 | #992 |
| 2022 | Girls | 44 | #3,536 |
| 2022 | Boys | 212 | #1,042 |
| 2021 | Girls | 38 | #3,883 |
| 2021 | Boys | 169 | #1,168 |
| 2020 | Girls | 27 | #4,757 |
| 2020 | Boys | 135 | #1,325 |
| 2019 | Girls | 28 | #4,773 |
| 2019 | Boys | 121 | #1,441 |
| 2018 | Girls | 18 | #6,521 |
| 2018 | Boys | 99 | #1,638 |
| 2017 | Girls | 12 | #8,776 |
| 2017 | Boys | 97 | #1,630 |
| 2016 | Girls | 14 | #7,988 |
| 2016 | Boys | 84 | #1,799 |
| 2015 | Girls | 9 | #10,866 |
| 2015 | Boys | 91 | #1,703 |
| 2014 | Girls | 19 | #6,451 |
| 2014 | Boys | 72 | #1,979 |
When Was Teddy Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1949 · Boys
613 recorded births
National rank #264
1961 · Boys
609 recorded births
National rank #318
1960 · Boys
591 recorded births
National rank #321
1959 · Boys
574 recorded births
National rank #324
Where Teddy Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #438 | 11 |
| IN | #483 | 14 |
| WI | #484 | 10 |
| IA | #493 | 6 |
| UT | #515 | 8 |
| MI | #517 | 16 |
| OR | #529 | 6 |
| OK | #552 | 7 |