Ted
Meaning of Ted
Ted is a bright little spark of a name, born as a cheerful shortcut for Theodore or Edward and carrying the old-world meaning of “gift of God” or “wealthy guardian.” It’s short, snappy, and rolls off the tongue like a smooth Latin ritmo—“TED” (/tɛd/)—perfect for a boy who’ll light up any room. Think of teddy bears cuddled close, President Roosevelt charging ahead, or that inspiring coach on TV known for his big heart and positive vibes. In the U.S., Ted has hovered around rank 880 in recent years with about 43 newborns named Ted in 2024—modest but steady, like a warm abrazo from abuela. It feels familiar without feeling ordinary, playful yet timeless, and ready to carry a child’s dreams into mañana and beyond.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as TED (/tɛd/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Ted
| Ted Bundy - Theodore Robert Bundy was an American serial killer who murdered dozens of young women and girls in the 1970s. |
| Ted Kennedy - Edward Moore Kennedy was an American politician who served Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate for nearly 47 years and was the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy. |
| Ted Williams - Theodore Samuel Williams was a Boston Red Sox legend and one of baseball's greatest hitters. |
| Ted Kaczynski - Theodore John Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, was an American mathematician who became a domestic terrorist. |
| Ted Turner - Robert Edward Turner III was an American media pioneer and philanthropist best known for founding CNN, the first 24-hour cable news channel. |
| Ted Gärdestad - Ted Gardestad was a Swedish singer, songwriter, and actor known for his popular albums and close collaboration with ABBA. |
| Ted Ligety - Theodore Sharp Ligety is a retired American alpine skier, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and cofounder of Shred Optics. |
| Ted Danson is an award-winning American actor best known for playing Sam Malone on Cheers and Michael on The Good Place. |
| Ted Simmons is a former American baseball player known as one of the best hitting catchers in Major League Baseball history. |
| Ted Chiang is an award-winning American science fiction writer whose short story Story of Your Life inspired the film Arrival. |
| Ted Lilly - Theodore Roosevelt Lilly III is a former American baseball pitcher and two-time MLB All-Star who played from 1999 to 2013. |
| Ted MacDougall - Edward John MacDougall is a former Scottish footballer famed for scoring nine goals in a single FA Cup match for Bournemouth. |
| Ted Cassidy - Theodore Crawford Cassidy was an American actor best known for playing Lurch on The Addams Family and voicing the Hulk. |
| Ted Marchibroda - Theodore Joseph Marchibroda was an NFL quarterback and head coach who led the Baltimore Colts, Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens. |
| Ted Levine is an American actor best known for playing Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs and Leland Stottlemeyer in Monk. |
