Theo is the most popular name

[Leeloo1233]

So technically Theo is the most popular name in England according to the new ONS data, right? Since Theodore is number 8 and Theo is number 11. And lets face it, no-one will call their kid Theodore - they will be Theo.

So those two names combined makes over 5000 boys, more than Muhammad that's number 1.

Theodore and Theo combined beat out the spelling Muhammad (5,115 vs 4661) but by my very quick estimate of all Muhammad spellings there are 7,802 of just a Muhammad variant and even more with a hyphenated name. Muhammad is comprehensively the most popular boys name in England and Wales with all spellings combined. Also, some Theodores will use a full name, others might be a Teddy (which is also super popular).

I haven't checked the full list yet, but I'm pretty sure with all the many spelling variants of Muhammad combined they would easily top Theo + Theodore.

Ah yes good point. And didn't think of Teddy. Well anyway Theo is very popular!

I was at a baby group a few months ago and there were two Theos. Both mums looked fairly miffed that theirs wasn't the only one but I'm not sure what they expected when they picked a top 10 name!

Yes agreed about Theo. it’s important to check the different spellings and variations of a name if popularity is important to you when picking a name (e.g. Isobel / Isabel / Isabelle / Isabella etc…)

Theo is so popular! I feel like whenever I'm somewhere with small children there are about ten Theo's. I think a lot of people don't check the data and it doesn't occur to them that names trends have moved on since they were at school so they think they're picking something usual. Especially if they don't know many small children, it doesn't really occur that Matthew, Daniel, Rebecca and Amy have been replaced with Theo, Arthur, Freya and Luna. The number of people I've seen say something like 'I named my baby Arthur/Ivy etc and it got so popular afterwards', but they just didn't realise that the name was always popular!

I know loads of people who used names ending in o. Theo, Arlo, Milo, Leo, Cleo, Hugo
.... The last three babies I know of all ended in o.

Yeah this is a huge trend, isn't it

The difference here is a lot of the muhammads will be known as something else entirely, which isn't the case for the Theos.

It's insanely popular - definitely the generic baby boy name of now.

As others have said, Muhammad would far surpass it with all the different spelling variations anyway, even before you consider Teddy being an alternative shortening, or that fact that many do in fact use Theodore as a given name (while they're little at least).

You can't work out the stats on assumptions as there are so many variables. Muhammad and the various spellings are deceptive too, as culturally Muhammad is often given to the eldest male in each generation. They are then known by their middle name within the family and at school. We have lots of children at our school registered as Muhammad/Mohammed etc but I can only think of a couple who go by that name. The rest are all Abdul, Mustafa, Karim, Tariq, Hamza, Hussain, Omar etc. Basically anything but Muhammad, as that's their dad or grandad's name.

Theo already feels dated. It's been SO good overused for a number of years that it's going to date badly imo.

It said Mohammed didn't it?

I disagree about dating badly. It's longevity at the top right now is helping it's cause not to feel dated. It could easily become a modern classic. Names that feel dated, eg age someone to a particular era, are those which has their rise and fall within the space of 10-15 years.

Of the current 'boys names ending in o' trend, I think Arlo will date the worst. Whereas I can see Theo still being up there in 10 years+ time.

This makes me laugh every time!

"I did know any girls called Isla when I picked it, now they're everywhere" - she's 3. You picked a name which was already firmly top 5 nationally! There were definitely plenty around before your one!

"Ooh I think I started a trend. Jude wasn't at all popular before we picked it, now it's in the top 20!" - he's 2, which means that it was definitely rising rapidly long before your one was a twinkle in your eye!

"I'm so disappointed by how popular Oscar is now. It was unheard of when we chose it, we wanted an uncommon name" - err he's only 7, not 27!... It was definitely firmly in the top 20 at the time of his birth, so I think you should have checked the stats before you named him if it meant that much to you!

I see it all the time on here and always have a chuckle to myself how out of touch some people are with the current trends and stats, despite claiming it's really important to them to avoid a popular name. 🤦‍♀️

This is so true too! Hardly hear Muhammads in use actually

This is so true too! Hardly hear Muhammads in use actually

I think that might depend where you live, or where you work.

I named my fox Theo 5 years ago. She is a girl it's short for Theodora. She is lovely.

It also depends what sort of area you live in, what the demographic/racial make up is like, as to how many of each name you’ll meet. I have literally never met a baby/toddler/child called Mohammed (though, reading this thread it’s possible they go by different names so maybe I have and didn’t know it). I have met loads of babies and children called Theo. I imagine other people living in other areas may have the opposite experience.

Theo will definitely date; it's so popular that it will be very much of its time. Theo and Isla will be the Lisa and Paul of the late 2010s/2020s

This! I know a lot.

Theo will be like Darren and Lee in the 70s. Very popular, then very dated.

I love name trends. I can't work out how they happen. Why do we all suddenly shift from Chloe to Mia or Andrew to Theo.

There must be other names that start to creep up the charts and then don't take off in the same way.

I disagree about dating badly

Theo is an already starting to sound dated. 20 years ago i didn't know a single one and the name sounded lovely and fresh. Now I know sooo many Theos under age 21....

I've got a 19 year old Theodore - I'd never met one when he was born and now they're everywhere 🤣

So I was a bit of a trend setter when I named my 20yr old Theo! Feel a bit sad about the negative comments.