The name Ted is a diminutive form of the medieval English name Theodore, which is derived from the Greek name Theodoros. The name Theodoros is composed of two Greek words: theos, meaning "god," and doron, meaning "gift." Thus, the name Theodore can be interpreted as "God's gift."

In ancient Greek mythology, Theodoros was the name of a character who was a skilled warrior and companion of Heracles. The name was also adopted by early Christians, as it aligned with their belief that life itself was a gift from God. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Theodore can be found in the New Testament, where it refers to a Christian martyred in the 4th century AD.

The diminutive form "Ted" emerged in the Middle Ages as a shorter, more informal version of Theodore. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ted dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in English court records.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Ted or Theodore:

1. Ted Williams (1918-2002), an American baseball player widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters in the sport's history.
2. Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), the 26th President of the United States and a renowned conservationist and statesman.
3. Ted Hughes (1930-1998), an influential English poet and children's writer, who served as the Poet Laureate of England from 1984 until his death.
4. Ted Bundy (1946-1989), an American serial killer who confessed to kidnapping, raping, and murdering numerous young women across several states in the 1970s.
5. Ted Kaczynski (born 1942), also known as the "Unabomber," an American domestic terrorist who carried out a series of bombings between 1978 and 1995.

The name Ted has been popular throughout various periods in history, particularly in English-speaking countries, where it has been embraced as a friendly and approachable nickname for Theodore.