The first nameTheodore
A boy’s name from Latin meaning “god”, “gift”.
Pronounced /ˈθi.əˌdɔɹ/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Theodore means “god”, “gift” in Latin.
Learned borrowing from Latin Theodōrus, borrowed from Ancient Greek Θεόδωρος (Theódōros), from θεός (theós, “god”) + δῶρον (dôron, “gift”). The name was popularized in reference to the prominent St Theodore of Amasea. Unrelated to Theodoric.
More names that mean gift, god.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 2,638 boys were named Theodore, making it the 9th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 2,889 births (#11).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Theodore with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Theodore at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 13,355 boys born in the United States were named Theodore, the 4th most popular boys’ name that year.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Theodore in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
Famous people named Theodore
217 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Theodore Roosevelt26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909 (1858–1919)
- Glenn Theodore SeaborgAmerican chemist (1912–1999)
- Theodore DreiserAmerican novelist and journalist (1871–1945)
- Théodore GéricaultFrench painter (1791–1824)
- Theodore SchultzAmerican economist (1902–1998)
- Théodore de BanvilleFrench writer (1823-1891)
- Théodore RousseauFrench painter (1812–1867)
- Theodore SturgeonAmerican speculative fiction writer (1918–1985)
- Theodore BezaFrench Reformed Protestant theologian, reformer and scholar (1519-1605)
- Theodore MaimanAmerican physicist/Inventor of first working laser, 1927–2007
- Theodore RoethkeAmerican poet (1907-1963)
- Theodore Nicholas GillAmerican biologist (1837–1914)
More Latin boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Theodore mean?
- Theodore means “god”, “gift” in Latin.
- What is the origin of the name Theodore?
- Learned borrowing from Latin Theodōrus, borrowed from Ancient Greek Θεόδωρος (Theódōros), from θεός (theós, “god”) + δῶρον (dôron, “gift”). The name was popularized in reference to the prominent St Theodore of Amasea. Unrelated to Theodoric.
- How popular is the name Theodore?
- In 2025, 2,638 boys born in England and Wales were named Theodore, ranking 9th. Its peak was 2021, with 2,889 births.