Given name & surname
Ted
“a gift from God”·“having heart”·“God”
In English use, Ted is a short form of Thaddeus. One Aramaic interpretation is “having heart.” Its derivation is not certain. In English use, Ted is a short form of Theodore. Theodore combines “God” and “gift,” giving the meaning “gift of God.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Ted carries the interpretation “a gift from God.” In English use, Ted is a short form of Thaddeus. One Aramaic interpretation is “having heart.” Its derivation is not certain. In English use, Ted is a short form of Theodore. Theodore combines “God” and “gift,” giving the meaning “gift of God.” In English use, Ted is a short form of Edward. One English interpretation is “a wealthy protector.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English use, Ted is used as a shortened form of Edward. In English use, Ted is used as a shortened form of Theodore. In English use, Ted is a short form of Theodore. The shared background comes through Theodore: Theodore’s Greek elements are theos, meaning “god,” and doron, meaning “gift.” French forms provided the route into English.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Ted is a short form of Theodore. The history of Theodore gives this family its wider story. Theodore was popular among early Christians and was borne by several saints. That religious history helps explain the name’s spread into different European forms.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Ted through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 75,424
- 75,160 boys · 264 girls
- Most popular year
- 1958
- 1,748 babies
- 2025
- 37
- #3,229 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 37 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,229 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 19.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 1,743 in 1958. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 49,170 as a first name in 2020; 281 as a surname in 2000.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ted’s family of names
In English usage, Ted is a diminutive of Edward. Ted is a form of Theodore. Ted is a short form of Edward.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Ted has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 14
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 5
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Ted
- Ted TurnerAmerican media mogul (1938–2026)
- Ted KennedyUnited States Senator from Massachusetts from 1962 to 20091932–2009
- Ted HughesEnglish poet and children's writer (1930–1998)
- Ted DansonAmerican actor (born 1947)
- Ted NelsonAmerican information technologist, philosopher, and sociologistborn 1937
- Ted LigetyAmerican alpine skierborn 1984
- Ted NugentAmerican rock musicianborn 1948
- Ted DiBiase Jr.American professional wrestler and actorborn 1982
- Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot1918–2002
Characters named Ted: Ted Mosby (the television series How I Met Your Mother), Ted Schmidt (fictional character), Ted Kord (superhero who was originally published by Charlton Comics and later picked up by DC Comics).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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