Teddy
Say it: TED-ee/ˈtɛdi/
BoyMeans pet form of Edward or Theodore5 letters2 syllables
#69
in Ireland (2025)
#71 with spellings combined
84
babies in 2025
#67
best rank (2023)
709
babies since 2009
Up 139
10-year rank change
Teddy through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 84 | #71 |
| 2024 | 86 | #70 |
| 2023 | 96 | #67 |
| 2022 | 91 | #77 |
| 2021 | 88 | #78 |
| 2020 | 56 | #108 |
| 2019 | 55 | #119 |
| 2018 | 39 | #152 |
| 2017 | 32 | #184 |
| 2016 | 21 | #237 |
| 2015 | 26 | #210 |
| 2014 | 11 | #364 |
| 2013 | 6 | #479 |
| 2012 | 6 | #500 |
| 2011 | 3 | #730 |
| 2010 | 5 | #542 |
| 2009 | 4 | #604 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Teddy mean?
Pet form of Edward or Theodore
English, a pet form of Edward or Theodore, built on Ted.
Say it right
TEDee
The story of Teddy
Teddy is a pet form of Edward or Theodore, made from the short form Ted with the familiar ending -y. Edward comes from Old English words for wealth and guard. Theodore comes from Greek words meaning “gift of God”.
The teddy bear takes its name from the American president Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. For a long time Teddy was mostly a nickname, but it is now often the name on the birth certificate.
Teddy first reached the CSO list in 2009 and has risen quickly since. Its best year so far was 2023, when 96 boys were named Teddy and it reached number 65. The CSO counts Ted, Edward and Theodore as separate names. It has been more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached 40th in 2022.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Teddy (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Teddy
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Teddy | 84 | 709 |
In Northern Ireland
#103 in 2025 with 23 babies. Best rank #40 (2022); 362 babies since 2013.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.