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Theodore

/THEE-ə-dor/

Theodore is a boy name of Greek origin, meaning Gift of God.

  • GenderBoy
  • OriginGreek
  • StyleClassic
  • Syllables2
  • US rank#24

What does Theodore mean?

Gift of God

From the Greek Theodoros, combining theos ("god") and doron ("gift"). Its mirror image, Dorothea, has exactly the same two elements in the opposite order and means the same thing.

The story behind the name

The name was widespread in the early church and produced a long list of saints, including Theodore of Tarsus, the seventh-century Archbishop of Canterbury who reorganised the English church.

In America it belongs above all to Theodore Roosevelt, who disliked being called Teddy and gave his name to the teddy bear anyway after refusing to shoot a captive bear in 1902.

Theodore had almost vanished by the 1970s. Its revival since 2010 has been rapid, and it entered the American top ten in 2022, carried largely by the appeal of Theo as a short form.

Notable people named Theodore

  • Theodore Roosevelt, US president
  • Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury
  • Theodor Herzl, founder of political Zionism

How popular is Theodore?

Popularity in the United States

Theodore has been given to 261,033 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

About 1 in 193 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

04,2858,570188019502020
Babies named Theodore per year in the United States, 1880–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Theodore has been given to 11,843 babies in France since 1900, peaking in the 1900s. It has held a steady level of use since.

0138275190019612022
Babies named Theodore per year in France, 1900–2022. Source: INSEE
261,033 Babies named since 1880
2010s Peak decade
Rising Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Theodor, Teodoro, Fyodor, Tudor

Related names: Theo, Dorothy, Teddy, Theodora, Fyodor

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Frequently asked questions about Theodore

What does the name Theodore mean?

Theodore means Gift of God. It is of Greek origin.

Is Theodore a boy's or a girl's name?

Theodore is most often given to boys.

How do you pronounce Theodore?

Theodore is pronounced THEE-ə-dor.

How popular is the name Theodore?

Theodore has been given to 261,033 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

What are other spellings of Theodore?

Common variants include Theodor, Teodoro, Fyodor, Tudor.