Tedy
A masculine name derived from the Old English name Theodore, meaning "gift of God".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Tedy. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tedy today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tedy births was 2023 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tedy. 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 Tedy. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2023
6 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,080
Tracked since 2023
Popularity
Tedy: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Tedy 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 Tedy during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Tedy
The name Tedy is believed to have its origins in the Old German language, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variant or diminutive form of the name Theodore, which itself is derived from the Greek words "theos" meaning "God" and "doron" meaning "gift." Thus, the name Tedy can be interpreted as a "gift from God."
In its early days, the name Tedy was predominantly found in Germanic regions of Europe, particularly in areas now part of modern-day Germany and Austria. Some scholars suggest that it may have been influenced by the Old High German name "Tedi" or "Tetti," which shared similar roots with Theodore.
While the name Tedy does not appear to have been prominently featured in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it gained popularity during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Tedy von Nürnberg, a German nobleman who lived in the 13th century.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Tedy. In the 16th century, Tedy Bry was a renowned Flemish engraver and publisher, best known for his detailed illustrations of the Americas and their indigenous peoples. Another prominent bearer of the name was Tedy Pedersdatter, a Norwegian merchant and landowner who lived in the 17th century and was one of the wealthiest individuals in her region.
In more recent times, Tedy Andrée was a Swedish explorer and engineer who attempted an ill-fated expedition to the North Pole by hydrogen balloon in 1897. His fate remained a mystery for decades until the wreckage of his expedition was discovered on the Arctic ice in 1930.
Another notable figure was Tedy Bruschi, an American football player who was born in 1973. He played as a linebacker for the New England Patriots and was a key member of the team's dynasty, winning three Super Bowl championships during his career.
While the name Tedy may not be as common as it once was, it has left an indelible mark on history, carried by individuals from various walks of life and cultures. Its enduring legacy serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of names that have shaped our world.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Tedy
People
Tedy + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tedy 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
Tedy: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tedy?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tedy 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Tedy a common name?
We classify Tedy as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tedy most popular?
The single biggest year for Tedy was 2023, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tedy is about 3 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tedy a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tedy 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.
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.