The name Theodore is of Greek origin and means "gift of God." The original Greek name was "Theodorus" and was a popular name among early Christians due to its religious connotations.
Trends with Theodore
The name Theodore was highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. It experienced a decline in popularity in the mid-20th century but has since regained popularity and is once again a popular name for boys. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Theodore has consistently ranked in the top 500 names for boys in the United States in recent years.
Famous people named Theodore
- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States
- Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, author and illustrator of children's books
- Theodore Bikel, actor and folk singer
Pop Culture References to the Name Theodore
- Theodore "Teddy" Flood, a character in the TV series "Westworld"
- Theodore "Ted" Mosby, the main character in the TV series "How I Met Your Mother"
- Theodore "Ted" Logan, a character in the movie "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"
Theo rank report (US ranking for newborns 2021)
- Rank 138. Archer
- Rank 139. Enzo
- Rank 140. Jonah
- Rank 141. Thiago
- Rank 142. Theo
- Rank 143. Ayden
- Rank 144. Zachary
- Rank 145. Calvin
- Rank 146. Braxton
Nicknames for Theo
| none | THEE-oh | The given name itself is already a shortened form of Theodore or Theodorus, so it typically doesn't have a nickname. |
| Ted | TED | Ted is a common diminutive of Theodore, and can be used interchangeably with Theo. |
| Teddy | TED-ee | Teddy is another common diminutive of Theodore, and can also be used as a nickname for Theo. |
| Thee | THEE | Thee is a shortened form of Theo, and is sometimes used as a nickname. |
| T | T | T is a simple and easy-to-use nickname for Theo. |
Famous people named Theo
| Theo James | Actor | Known for his roles in the Divergent film series and the TV series Sanditon |
| Theo Epstein | Baseball executive | Known for leading the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs to World Series championships |
| Theo Walcott | Footballer | English professional footballer who played for Arsenal and Everton |
| Theo van Gogh | Filmmaker | Dutch film director and great-grandson of Vincent van Gogh |
| Theo Jansen | Artist | Dutch artist known for his kinetic sculptures called Strandbeests |
| Theo Rossi | Actor | Known for his role as Juan Carlos 'Juice' Ortiz in the TV series Sons of Anarchy |
| Theo Fleury | Ice hockey player | Former Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Calgary Flames and New York Rangers |
| Theo Parrish | Musician | American DJ and producer known for his work in the Detroit house and techno scene |
| Theo Ratliff | Basketball player | Former American professional basketball player who played for several NBA teams |
| Theo Hutchcraft | Musician | English singer and songwriter, known as the lead vocalist of the electronic band Hurts |
Fictional character called Theo from pop culture
| Theo Huxtable | The Cosby Show character | Son of Cliff and Claire Huxtable, known for his love of music and his witty sense of humor. |
| Theo Raeken | Teen Wolf character | A werewolf who is initially an antagonist but later becomes an ally to the main characters. |
| Theo Galavan | Gotham character | A wealthy businessman and philanthropist who is revealed to be a villainous mastermind with a vendetta against the city. |
| Theo Kojak | Kojak TV series character | A tough, lollipop-sucking detective who solves crimes in New York City. |
| Theo Tonin | Justified character | A ruthless crime boss who leads the Tonin crime family in Kentucky. |
| Theo Epstein | Baseball executive | A successful baseball executive who has led both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs to World Series championships. |
| Theo Decker | The Goldfinch character | The protagonist of Donna Tartt's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, who survives a terrorist attack that kills his mother and becomes obsessed with a painting. |
| Theo Faron | Children of Men character | The protagonist of the novel and film, who is tasked with protecting the first pregnant woman in 18 years in a world where infertility has caused chaos. |
| Theo James | Actor | An English actor known for his roles in the Divergent film series and the TV series Sanditon. |
Frequently Asked Questions about Theo
| What is the origin of the name Theo? | The name Theo is of Greek origin and is a short form of the name Theodore, which means 'gift of God'. |
| Is Theo a popular name? | Yes, Theo has been increasing in popularity in recent years, particularly in English-speaking countries. |
| Is Theo a unisex name? | While Theo is traditionally a masculine name, it can also be used as a nickname for female names such as Theodora or Theodosia. |
| What are some famous people with the name Theo? | Famous people with the name Theo include Theo James, a British actor, and Theo Epstein, an American baseball executive. |
| What are some similar names to Theo? | Similar names to Theo include Theodore, Theocharis, and Theophilus. |