Etymology Map
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Teddy bear

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a soft toy bear

Where does the word "teddy bear" come from? It comes from Greek Theódōros, passing through American English before entering English (1906).

1
Stage 1 of 3
Theódōros
Greek · ancient
"gift of God"
'gift of God', theos 'god' + dōron 'gift', a popular Christian name
2
Stage 2 of 3
Teddy
American English · 1902
"Theodore Roosevelt"
a pet form of Theodore; on a Mississippi hunt in November 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a tethered bear, and Clifford Berryman's cartoon of it went national
3
Stage 3 of 3
teddy bear
American English · 1906
"stuffed toy bear"
Brooklyn shopkeeper Morris Michtom sold stuffed 'Teddy's bears', while Germany's Steiff company produced its own toy bears at the same time
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Read the full story

Teddy bear’s story begins in Greek: Theódōros meant “gift of God.” 'gift of God', theos 'god' + dōron 'gift', a popular Christian name. By 1902, the word had taken hold in American English as Teddy. A pet form of Theodore; on a Mississippi hunt in November 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a tethered bear, and Clifford Berryman's cartoon of it went national. It reached English by 1906 as teddy bear. Brooklyn shopkeeper Morris Michtom sold stuffed 'Teddy's bears', while Germany's Steiff company produced its own toy bears at the same time. Today, teddy bear means a soft toy bear.