Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Ted

Ted

β™‚ Boy

Pronounced TEHD /ˈtΙ›d/Medium

Meaning: Rich guardMedium

In 30 seconds: Ted is a boy's name from English meaning 'rich guard'.
πŸ’• Browse more names
Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningRich guard
U.S. rank (2025)#3229 β†˜ Falling
2025 U.S. births37 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1958
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 75,159

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 195818802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ted started as a short form within the English name pool and carries the sense 'rich guard'. It has long worked as a friendly stand-alone name, worn by the actor Ted Danson (born 1947) and the baseball pitcher Ted Lyons (1900–1986).

It keeps company with related short forms like Ed, Eddie, and Ned, all warm one-syllable nicknames that have grown into names of their own.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Ted is 'rich guard', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Ted β€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration β€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

EdEddEddieEddyNed

Nicknames

β€”

Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Ted Danson (1947–present)
    Emmy winner for 'Cheers' in 1990, 1993.
  • β˜…Ted Lyons (1900–1986)
    Baseball player with Chicago AL.

If you like Ted…

Eddieβ€” A friendly diminutive grouped with Ted.
Jedβ€” lands in the same popularity range
Trentβ€” a similarly popular pick
Truthβ€” a fellow English choice
Townesβ€” shares Ted's English roots

Explore names like Ted

By themeenglish
By meaningProtectorWealth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ted mean?

Ted is usually explained as meaning 'rich guard' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Ted?

It's commonly said TEHD /ˈtΙ›d/.

Is Ted a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Ted is used as a boy name.

How popular is Ted?

In 2024, Ted ranked #2932 in the U.S. for boys, with 43 births recorded.

πŸ’¬ Ask Nia