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Boy name · Greek

Teddy

Name meaning, origin and popularity

: gift of God

Teddy is a boy's name that comes from Greek and means "gift of God". It is used in English.

Meaning
Gift of God
Origin
Greek
Gender
Boy
US rank
#823 in 2025

Meaning and origin of Teddy

As a boy's name, Teddy comes from Greek and means "gift of God". It is used in English.

Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names

Teddy on Nomezo lists

What our editors wrote about Teddy on 8 lists.

  • “A cuddly stuffed-bear name for a giant who walks upright”

    From Bigfoot nicknames, cute Bigfoot names

  • “For a soft, cuddly cat who loves to be held”

    From Boy cat names, classic boy cat names

  • “For a soft, cuddly pup who looks like a plush toy”

    From Boy dog names, popular boy dog names

  • “Gift of God; Greek, a pet form of Theodore (or Edward), cuddly as a bear”

    From Cute boy names, cute nickname-style boy names

  • “No. 3 for AKC boys in 2025 and on Trupanion's list too”

    From Cute dog names, cute boy dog names

  • “A walking, mooing stuffed bear”

    From Highland cattle names, cute Highland cow names

  • “Like a cuddly stuffed bear that loves to swim”

    From Beaver names, cute beaver names

  • “Gift of God; Greek. Short for Theodore or Edward”

    From Old man names, cozy grandpa nickname names

How popular is Teddy?

US rank in 2025
#823
301 babies, 176 per million boys
Best rank
#239 in 1933
Most babies: 613 in 1949
Babies since 1890
At least 33,627
Years with under 5 are not listed
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US boys, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 1930s, at 415 per million.
Babies named Teddy per million US boys, by decade; highest in the 1930s
1880s0 per million
1890s16 per million
1900s117 per million
1910s176 per million
1920s269 per million
1930s415 per million
1940s346 per million
1950s268 per million
1960s274 per million
1970s182 per million
1980s106 per million
1990s62 per million
2000s39 per million
2010s44 per million
2020s126 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Rank#1,808#1,641#1,647#1,449#1,334#1,169#1,043#996#895#823

Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.

Other forms of Teddy

The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.

  • FyodorGift of God (Greek, boy)
  • TadrosGift of God (Greek, boy)
  • TeodorGift of God (Greek, boy)
  • TeodoroGift of God (Greek, boy)
  • TheoGift of God (Greek, boy)
  • TheodorGift of God (Greek, boy)
  • TheodoreGift of God (Greek, boy)
  • TheodorosGift of God (Greek, boy)
  • ThodorisGift of God (Greek, boy)

Names with a similar meaning

  • DoraGift (Greek, girl)
  • DorotheaGift of God (Greek, girl)
  • IsadoraGift of Isis (Greek, girl)
  • MatthiasGift of God (Hebrew, boy)
  • DoroteaGift of God (Greek, girl)
  • EudoraGood gift (Greek, girl)
  • FeodoraGift of God (Greek, girl)
  • HeliodoraGift of the sun (Greek, girl)
  • HeliodoroGift of the sun (Greek, boy)
  • JessePossibly gift, or existence (Hebrew, boy)

Middle names for Teddy

Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.

  • AugustusGreat, venerable (Latin, boy)
  • BasilRoyal, kingly (Greek, boy)
  • BurtonFortified town (Old English, boy)
  • EvanderGood man (Greek, boy)
  • JeremiahGod will exalt (Hebrew, boy)
  • NathanielGod has given (Hebrew, boy)
  • ReubenBehold, a son (Hebrew, boy)
  • RiverFlowing river (English, unisex)

More boy names from Greek

  • AlexanderDefender of men (Greek, boy)
  • LucasMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
  • ChristianFollower of Christ (Greek, boy)
  • LeonA lion (Greek, boy)
  • HectorHolding fast (Greek, boy)
  • AlexisHelper, defender (Greek, boy)
  • LucaMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
  • PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
  • SebastianMan of sebaste, venerable (Greek, boy)
  • AlexDefender, protector (Greek, unisex)

Teddy: common questions

What does the name Teddy mean?

Teddy comes from Greek and means "gift of God".

Is Teddy a boy or girl name?

Teddy is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 56 girls and 301 boys in the US were named Teddy, according to Social Security Administration data.

Where does the name Teddy come from?

Teddy comes from Greek and means "gift of God". Today it is used in English.

How popular is the name Teddy?

Teddy ranked #823 in the US in 2025, with 301 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

What are other forms of Teddy?

Forms of Teddy with the same meaning and origin include Fyodor (Russian), Tadros (Arabic), Teodor (Polish), Teodoro (Spanish) and Theo (English).

What middle names go with Teddy?

Middle names that flow well with Teddy include Augustus, Basil, Burton, Evander and Jeremiah. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.