Nils vs Theodore

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Nils

Boy #4,894 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"victory of the people"

Origin: Greek (Nikolaos)

Cultural Roots

Swedish Norwegian Danish Finnish Germanic

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#4,894
Total SSA Count
20
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Nils →

Popularity Comparison

Nils Rank #4,894
Theodore Rank #4

Theodore is more popular, ranked #4 vs #4894 for Nils.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Nils ___

  • Nils Erik
  • Nils Johan
  • Nils Lars
  • Nils Gustav
  • Nils Axel
  • Nils Henrik

Theodore ___

  • Theodore James
  • Theodore William
  • Theodore Alexander
  • Theodore John
  • Theodore Henry
  • Theodore Arthur

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Nils

Astrid Ingrid Sigrid Lars Erik

If you choose Theodore

Olivia Charlotte Amelia Eleanor Oliver

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nils or Theodore more popular?

Theodore is more popular, ranked #4 compared to Nils at #4894 in the United States.

What do Nils and Theodore mean?

Nils means "victory of the people" (Greek (Nikolaos) origin). Theodore means "divine gift" (Greek origin).

Are Nils and Theodore boy or girl names?

Nils is primarily a boy name. Theodore is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Theodore vs Nils Nils vs Apollos Nils vs Michoel Nils vs Yida Nils vs Sruly
← Full profile: Nils ← Full profile: Theodore Browse all baby names