Given name & surname
Teddy
“a gift from God”·“God”·“gift”
Teddy is a variant of Ted. In English use, Ted carries the interpretation “a gift from God.” In English use, Teddy is a diminutive of Theodore. Theodore combines “God” and “gift,” giving the meaning “gift of God.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Teddy is a variant of Ted. In English use, Ted carries the interpretation “a gift from God.” In English use, Teddy is a diminutive of Theodore. Theodore combines “God” and “gift,” giving the meaning “gift of God.” In English use, Teddy is a diminutive of Edward. One English interpretation is “a wealthy protector.” Teddy is a variant of Theodora. In Greek use, Theodora carries the interpretation “gift of God.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Teddy is a diminutive of Theodore. Theodore reached English through French from the Greek name Theodoros. In English use, Teddy is a diminutive of Edward. An origin associated with Edward is Old English.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Teddy is used as an affectionate form of Ted. In English use, Teddy is a diminutive 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 1890. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Teddy is a diminutive 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
Teddy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 35,402
- 33,627 boys · 1,775 girls
- Most popular year
- 1949
- 637 babies
- 2025
- 357
- #823 for boys · #2,994 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +123%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 83% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 301 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 823 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 118.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 613 in 1949. It also appeared in 56 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (24). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 19,310 as a first name in 2020; 405 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Teddy’s family of names
In English usage, Teddy is a diminutive of Edward. Teddy has a related form in Ted. In French usage, Teddy is a diminutive of Theodore.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Teddy has relatives in 3 languages.
7 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Teddy
- Teddy SheringhamEnglish footballer and manager (born 1966)
- Teddy ScholtenDutch singer1926–2010
- Teddy RinerFrench judokaborn 1989
- Teddy KollekIsraeli politician (1911–2007)
- Teddy PendergrassAmerican singer (1950–2010)
- Teddy WilsonAmerican jazz pianist (1912–1986)
- Teddy LučićSwedish footballerborn 1973
- Teddy TamghoFrench triple jumper and long jumperborn 1989
- Teddy SearsAmerican actorborn 1977
Characters named Teddy: Teddy Altman (the television series Grey's Anatomy).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Teddy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Terry
“learned” · “instigator”
97% boys · 3% girls
Tommy
“a twin” · “twin”
97% boys · 3% girls
Eddy
“a wealthy protector” · “one who is wealthy in friendship”
94% boys · 6% girls
Freddy
“a peaceful ruler” · “one who wishes for peace”
>99% boys
Eddie
“a wealthy protector” · “a wealthy friend”
98% boys · 2% girls
Benny
“a pretty and charming girl” · “son of the south; son of the right hand”
96% boys · 4% girls
Jerry
“a holy man; having great strength”
>99% boys
Terrence
“learned” · “instigator”
>99% boys