Theodore
Theodore: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈθiː.əˌdɔː/ · /ˈθi.əˌdɔɹ/
Meaning and origin of Theodore
- A male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek]; the name of a saint, pope, several emperors, etc.
Etymology
Ancient Greek θεός (theós) Ancient Greek δῶρον (dôron) 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 Theodore?
Since 1880, 969 girls and 317,206 boys in the U.S. have been named Theodore (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1415 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #4 in 2024. In 2025 it ranked #4 for boys, with 13,362 babies given the name.
Names similar to Theodore
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin boy names
Sibling name ideas for Theodore
Sister and brother names that share Theodore's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Theodore FAQ
What does the name Theodore mean?
A male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek]; the name of a saint, pope, several emperors, etc. Ancient Greek θεός (theós) Ancient Greek δῶρον (dôron) 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.
What is the origin of the name Theodore?
Theodore is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Theodore?
Since 1880, 969 girls and 317,206 boys in the U.S. have been named Theodore (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1415 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #4 in 2024. In 2025 it ranked #4 for boys, with 13,362 babies given the name.
Is Theodore a boy or girl name?
Theodore is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 969 girls and 317,206 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.