Teco
A Spanish American name representing a shortened form of Teodoro, derived from Theodore.
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Teco. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Teco today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Teco births was 1977 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Teco. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Teco. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1977
9 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
1977 SSA rank
#4,131
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Teco: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Teco by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Teco during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9 | 0 | 9 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Teco
The given name Teco has its origins in the Nahuatl language, which was spoken by the Aztecs and various other indigenous groups in central Mexico. The name is believed to have originated during the post-classic period of Mesoamerican history, between the 10th and 16th centuries AD.
Teco is derived from the Nahuatl word "tecotl," which means "lord" or "chief." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon individuals of high social standing or leadership roles within their communities. It is possible that the name was used to honor the recipient's authority or to reflect their noble lineage.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Teco can be found in the Codex Mendoza, a 16th-century Aztec codex that documents various aspects of Aztec society, including taxation, laws, and a list of rulers. Although the name does not appear frequently in this historical document, its inclusion suggests that it was in use during the time of the Aztec Empire.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Teco. One such figure was Teco Nene, a renowned Mapuche warrior and leader who lived in present-day Chile during the 16th century. He played a pivotal role in the Arauco War, a long-standing conflict between the Mapuche people and the Spanish conquistadors.
Another historical figure with the name Teco was Teco Melgar, a Mexican revolutionary who fought alongside Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. He was known for his bravery and unwavering commitment to the cause of agrarian reform and social justice.
In the realm of literature, Teco Aguilar was a renowned Paraguayan poet and writer who lived from 1918 to 1992. He was celebrated for his contributions to the modernist movement in Paraguayan literature and his vivid portrayals of rural life and indigenous culture.
Moving further back in time, Teco Moctezuma was a prominent Aztec noble and military leader who lived during the 15th century. He played a significant role in the expansion of the Aztec Empire and is believed to have been a trusted advisor to the emperor Moctezuma II.
Lastly, Teco Tulku was a revered Buddhist teacher and spiritual leader who lived in Bhutan during the 17th century. He was highly regarded for his wisdom, compassion, and contributions to the preservation of Buddhist teachings and practices in the Himalayan region.
These historical figures, spanning various cultures and time periods, demonstrate the enduring presence of the name Teco throughout human history. While its origins can be traced back to the Nahuatl language and the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and cultural contexts, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of human experience.
People
Teco + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Teco as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Teco: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Teco?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Teco going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Teco a common name?
We classify Teco as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 9 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Teco most popular?
The single biggest year for Teco was 1977, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Teco is about 52 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Teco in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Teco a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Teco in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Teco still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Teco in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Teco can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Teco?
Want to know how many people share the name Teco? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.