Theodore
Theodore is a boys' name of Greek origin meaning “gift of God.” It ranked #7 in the United States in 2025. Theodore combines the Greek 'theos' (god) and 'doron' (gift).
how do you pronounce Theodore?
THEE-oh-dor
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Theodore mean?
The name Theodore means “gift of God.” It comes from the Greek language tradition.
Theodore combines the Greek 'theos' (god) and 'doron' (gift). President Theodore Roosevelt established its rugged-yet-warm persona. After decades of dormancy, it has rocketed from #266 in 2009 to the top 10 — one of the greatest comeback names ever.
where does the name Theodore come from?
From the Greek Θεόδωρος, joining theos, meaning god, with dōron, meaning gift. Dorothea is built from precisely the same two elements in the opposite order, which makes the pair one of the neatest mirror images in European naming.
the history of Theodore
The name was borne by a long line of saints and by Theodore of Tarsus, the seventh-century Archbishop of Canterbury who reorganised the English church. Theodore Roosevelt supplied its most durable modern association: after he refused to shoot a captive bear on a 1902 hunting trip, a toymaker named a stuffed bear the teddy in his honour.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #7 |
| 2023 | #7 |
| 2022 | #10 |
| 2021 | #12 |
| 2020 | #23 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Theodore?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Theodore?
- Theodore Roosevelt (US President)
- Ted Lasso (TV character)
- Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)
what names are similar to Theodore?
what names go well with Theodore?
Sibling names that share Theodore's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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