Theodor
Theodor is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Gift of God.
Origin and history
Theodor is a variant spelling of Theodore, derived from the Greek name Theodoros meaning gift of God. While Theodore is significantly more common in the United States, Theodor is widely used in Scandinavian, German, and Slavic traditions. It has seen a steady rise in modern U.S. usage as parents seek traditional names with European spelling variations.
Popularity in the United States
2,216 babies in the United States have been named Theodor since 1880. It ranks #2744 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1465.
States where it is most popular
- CA (36 %)
- NY (23.5 %)
- TX (10 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- PA (5.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 10 |
| 1890-1900 | 6 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 110 |
| 1920-1930 | 139 |
| 1930-1940 | 120 |
| 1940-1950 | 113 |
| 1950-1960 | 139 |
| 1960-1970 | 124 |
| 1970-1980 | 79 |
| 1980-1990 | 98 |
| 1990-2000 | 127 |
| 2000-2010 | 189 |
| 2010-2019 | 492 |
| 2020-2029 | 470 |
Famous people named Theodor
- Theodor Seuss Geisel: Author, Illustrator
- Theodor Kocher: Surgeon, Nobel Laureate
- Theodor Adorno: Philosopher, Sociologist
Nicknames
Theo, Teddy, Ted
Fun facts
- Theodor drops the final 'e' found in the standard English Theodore, aligning with Scandinavian, German, and Czech spellings.
- Theodor Geisel, known globally as Dr. Seuss, brought iconic recognition to this specific spelling.