Theodore
Theodore is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Gift of God.
Origin and history
Theodore is derived from the Ancient Greek name Theodoros, combining the elements 'theos' (god) and 'doron' (gift). It was widely used in classical antiquity and early Christianity before becoming a staple classical name in the English-speaking world. In the U.S., it has experienced a massive resurgence in recent years, ranking among the most popular boys' names of the 2020s.
Popularity in the United States
317,206 babies in the United States have been named Theodore since 1880. It ranks #110 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #9.
States where it is most popular
- NY (9.9 %)
- PA (7.6 %)
- CA (7.5 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- OH (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 2,176 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,300 |
| 1900-1910 | 6,490 |
| 1910-1920 | 21,106 |
| 1920-1930 | 31,287 |
| 1930-1940 | 24,957 |
| 1940-1950 | 26,249 |
| 1950-1960 | 29,050 |
| 1960-1970 | 21,288 |
| 1970-1980 | 13,567 |
| 1980-1990 | 11,958 |
| 1990-2000 | 10,113 |
| 2000-2010 | 10,556 |
| 2010-2019 | 40,530 |
| 2020-2029 | 65,579 |
Famous people named Theodore
- Theodore Roosevelt: President, Statesman
- Theodore Dreiser: Novelist, Journalist
- Theodore Bikel: Actor, Singer
Nicknames
Theo, Teddy, Ted
Fun facts
- Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. President, popularized the nickname Teddy, which subsequently inspired the teddy bear.
- After declining in the late 20th century, Theodore re-entered the U.S. top 10 boys' names in the early 2020s.