Ted
TED
Ted is a familiar short form of Edward, carrying the sense of a guardian of happiness.
Meaning
Ted is best known as a nickname for Edward. In the excerpts, Edward is traced to Old English ead-weard, meaning “guardian of happiness,” and Ted is listed among its pet forms along with Ned and Teddy. One excerpt also shows Ted used more loosely as a nickname in older name lists, but the clearest connection here is to Edward.
Origin
EnglishOld Englishmasculine
Fun fact
In 19th-century name books, Ted appears alongside Ned and Teddy as a shortened form of Edward.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland.