Ted Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Ted is an English name derived primarily as a diminutive of Edward and Theodore, meaning 'wealthy guardian' and 'gift of God', respectively. The name has evolved through historical forms like Edward and Theodore. It is characterized by its friendly and approachable traits, with no significant biblical relevance. Ted became popular in the 20th century and is associated with notable figures such as Ted Kennedy and Ted Danson.
The name Ted is most popular in Idaho, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Ted has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Ted' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 216th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 161st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 183rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 286th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 627th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1640th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2601st out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3778th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4047th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7881st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 11362nd out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Ted' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ted"
Pronunciation
/tɛd/
Origin
English
Etymology
Ted is often a diminutive form of the name Edward or Theodore. Edward comes from the Old English 'ēad' meaning 'wealth, fortune' and 'weard' meaning 'guard'. Theodore is derived from the Greek 'theodoros', meaning 'gift of God'.
Meaning
wealthy guardian, gift of God
Language Evolution
Edward, Theodore, Ted
Historical Usage
Ted gained popularity in the 20th century as a standalone name, especially in English-speaking countries, often associated with friendly and approachable qualities.
Variants & Derivatives
Teddy, Theodore, Eddie
Modern Popularity & Image
Ted is often perceived as a friendly and approachable name, commonly associated with warmth and reliability.
Famous People
Ted Kennedy, Ted Danson, Ted Turner
Explore More Ted Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ted"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ted"
"Ted" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 216th of 7545 | 9,544 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 161st of 6773 | 19,240 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 183rd of 7552 | 28,875 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 286th of 10718 | 11,190 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 627th of 16616 | 3,889 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1640th of 24088 | 1,323 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2601st of 23106 | 596 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3778th of 9107 | 105 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4047th of 9204 | 91 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7881st of 12526 | 35 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 11362nd of 19264 | 33 |
Regional Popularity of "Ted" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
12.57% 178th/1416 |
22.77% 314th/1379 |
10.90% 258th/2366 |
11.73% 134th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
8.80% 136th/1546 |
12.98% 202nd/1556 |
7.82% 184th/2353 |
6.79% 105th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
7.00% 156th/2227 |
9.05% 220th/2430 |
7.29% 208th/2853 |
5.37% 149th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
7.73% 227th/2937 |
9.50% 331st/3483 |
9.49% 334th/3518 |
6.73% 272nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
13.68% 504th/3685 |
15.40% 689th/4475 |
13.34% 693rd/5194 |
10.13% 640th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
37.82% 1733rd/4582 |
31.74% 1639th/5164 |
26.01% 1902nd/7313 |
22.27% 1662nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
62.40% 2800th/4487 |
43.54% 2970th/6822 |
37.83% 2374th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Ted" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ted"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ted" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.