Mostly boys · Greek

Theodore

“gift of God”

Say it THEE-uh-dorPronunciation may vary by region.

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A little maybe, saved for later.

The story behind the name

Meet Theodore.

Friendly nickname Theo may be responsible for some of that, though there are plenty of baby boys given Theo as their full name too. Add their numbers together along with those for Mateo and Teo, and they hands-down become the Number 1 boys' name.

Theodore and Mateo are far from interchangeable names, for sure, and some Theodores are called Teddy....or Theodore. But we predict an overwhelming number of little boys called Theo or Teo on American playgrounds over the coming years.

Theodore is a derivative of the Latin Theodorus, a variation of the Greek name Theodōros. The components are from the Greek words theos, meaning "God," and dōron, meaning "gift," giving Theodore the meaning "God-given" or "gift of God." Names with similar origins include Theodora, Dorothy, and Dorothea.

A little perspective

How popular is Theodore?

United States · 2025
Girls · 2025#13,0747 recorded births
Boys · 2025#413,355 recorded births

Recorded US births over time

2014202513,3550
● Girls● Boys
View the numbers behind the chart
YearCategoryUS rankBirths
2025Boys413,355
2025Girls13,0747
2024Boys412,069
2024Girls8,39313
2023Boys711,093
2023Girls9,54911
2022Boys1010,824
2022Girls7,60315
2021Boys109,600
2021Girls12,1058
2020Boys238,638
2020Girls7,92514
2019Boys367,896
2019Girls13,6897
2018Boys447,088
2017Boys615,973
2016Boys834,910
2016Girls14,2097
2015Boys994,155
2014Boys1263,228

Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.

A few ways to make it theirs.

Nicknames

No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.

Variations & related forms

DorekTheodoorThaoTheodrekrTewdwrTeodorTewdorTudorTedikTodorFeodorTheodosios

Keep the possibilities coming

If you love Theodore…

More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.