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Name Lineage

    The first name Theophilus

    A boy’s name from Latin meaning “love of god”, “friend of god”.

    Pronounced /θiːˈɒfɪləs/ 3 syllables Male

    Meaning and origin

    Latin origin

    Theophilus means “love of god”, “friend of god” in Latin.

    From Middle English Theophilus, from Latin Theophilus, from Ancient Greek Θεόφιλος (Theóphilos), meaning "love of God" or "friend of God".

    More names that mean friend, god, love.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 8 boys were named Theophilus, making it the 2,664th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2013, with 13 births (#1,706).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    163
    babies named Theophilus, 1996–2025
    #2,664
    rank in 2025
    2013
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Theophilus with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Theophilus at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 57 boys born in the United States were named Theophilus, the 2,417th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2022, when 68 were.

    03570 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    2,448
    babies named Theophilus since 1880
    #2,417
    rank in 2025
    2022
    peak 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.

    Theophilus in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Թեոփիլոս
    Tʻeopʻilos
    Armenian
    Теофил
    Teofil
    Bulgarian
    Théophile
    French
    Θεόφιλος
    Theófilos
    Greek
    Teofilo
    Italian
    Teofil
    Polish
    Феофи́л
    Feofíl
    Russian
    Teófilo
    Spanish

    Famous people named Theophilus

    12 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • John Theophilus Desaguliers
      French-born British natural philosopher and clergyman, 1683–1744
    • Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges
      Former elected State President of South Africa who died before being able to take office (, 1898–1968
    • Theophilus Van Kannel
      American engineer (1841–1919)
    • Theophilus London
      American rapper and singer, born 1987
    • Theophilus Shepstone
      British South African statesman (1817-1893)
    • Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
      English Earl, 1584–1640
    • Theophilus Cibber
      English writer (1703-1758)
    • Henry Theophilus Finck
      American music critic (1854–1926)
    • Oliver Jones
      Canadian musician, 1934–2026
    • George Walker
      American classical composer (1922–2018)
    • Bull Connor
      American politician and segregationist (1897-1973)
    • Theo Pinson
      American basketball player (born 1995)

    More Latin boys’ names

    All 381 names of Latin origin

    Questions

    What does the name Theophilus mean?
    Theophilus means “love of god”, “friend of god” in Latin.
    What is the origin of the name Theophilus?
    From Middle English Theophilus, from Latin Theophilus, from Ancient Greek Θεόφιλος (Theóphilos), meaning "love of God" or "friend of God".
    How popular is the name Theophilus?
    In 2025, 8 boys born in England and Wales were named Theophilus, ranking 2,664th. Its peak was 2013, with 13 births.
    Is Theophilus a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 2,448 US babies named Theophilus since 1880 were boys.
    When was Theophilus most popular?
    2022 in the United States, when 68 babies were named Theophilus, its highest rank at 2,166th.
    How do you pronounce Theophilus?
    Theophilus is /θiːˈɒfɪləs/, 3 syllables.