Fun Facts About the Name Theodore
- Back among the favorites: Theodore returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 11 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 318 thousand babies named Theodore: U.S. records list 318,085 babies given the name Theodore from 1880 through 2025. Even 969 girls received the name Theodore - about 1 girl for every 327 boys.
What Does the Name Theodore Mean?
Theodore is an English form of the Greek name Θεόδωρος (Theodoros), which means "gift of God" or "God-given." It is a compound of θεός (theos), "god," and δῶρον (doron), "gift." In ancient Greek, theos could refer to any deity; in Christian usage the same name came to be understood as referring to the one God. The Latin form Theodorus and the French Théodore are among the intermediate forms through which the name passed into English. The literal sense is "gift of a god" or "gift of God"; later religious interpretation often treats it as "God's gift" in a devotional sense. It is not related to the Germanic name Theodoric, despite the similar first element in English spelling.
Theodore Name History & Origins
The name was used in the Greek-speaking world well before Christian times. A sixth-century BC architect and inventor from Samos is remembered as Theodoros, and a fifth-century BC mathematician from Cyrene, Theodoros of Cyrene, appears in Plato's dialogues. The name's structure places it among Greek theophoric names, which combine a divine element with another word.
In early Christianity, the name was borne by martyrs and saints, especially in the eastern Mediterranean. Two martyrs of Asia Minor, Theodore of Amasea and Theodore Stratelates, were widely honored as military saints. Theodore the Studite (759 - 826), abbot of the Stoudios monastery in Constantinople, was an influential monastic reformer and writer. In the West, Theodore of Tarsus, born in Cilicia, served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 668 to 690, and Pope Theodore I held the papal office from 642 to 649. The Latin form Theodorus was used in these contexts.
From Greek, the name passed into Latin and then into the languages of Western Europe; French Théodore is one such form. In Slavic Orthodox lands it took forms such as Russian Fyodor, which developed from the same Greek original. In English, the form is Theodore. A well-known fictional bearer is Theodore "Laurie" Laurence in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (1868); this is a literary use, not the name's earliest appearance. Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth president of the United States, is another widely recognized bearer.
How Popular is the Name Theodore?
Theodore has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 80 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 2015 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,074 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #8,357 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #9,542 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #7,597 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2021 | #12,096 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #7,922 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #13,682 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #14,204 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #19,295 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #8,346 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #6,757 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #5,738 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1985 | #4,842 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1984 | #12,045 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #6,185 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #10,415 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #6,286 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #10,290 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #8,949 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #5,537 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #7,506 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #4,889 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #10,474 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #3,541 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1973 | #6,613 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #5,101 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #6,321 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #4,402 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #8,099 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #3,828 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #5,756 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #5,761 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #4,610 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #4,866 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #3,994 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #3,456 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1960 | #4,153 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #4,996 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #3,221 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #4,879 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #6,809 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #5,158 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #3,314 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1953 | #3,255 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #3,777 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #4,788 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #4,285 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #5,202 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #3,327 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #6,052 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #4,916 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #4,508 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #2,936 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #5,313 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #4,594 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #5,021 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,832 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #2,727 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1938 | #3,157 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1937 | #2,722 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1936 | #3,085 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1935 | #4,159 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1934 | #1,908 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1933 | #2,528 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1932 | #2,231 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1931 | #1,798 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1930 | #1,864 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1929 | #1,415 | 30 | 0.0027% |
| 1928 | #1,673 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1927 | #1,765 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1926 | #2,245 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1925 | #2,474 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1924 | #2,504 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1923 | #2,082 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1922 | #2,592 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1921 | #4,412 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #2,350 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1919 | #2,147 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1918 | #2,279 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1917 | #2,860 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1916 | #3,517 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1915 | #3,760 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1914 | #3,151 | 7 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #3,146 | 6 | 0.0010% |
| 1912 | #2,336 | 8 | 0.0014% |
| 1911 | #1,645 | 10 | 0.0024% |
| 1910 | #1,914 | 8 | 0.0020% |
| 1909 | #1,748 | 8 | 0.0023% |
| 1908 | #2,398 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| 1906 | #2,192 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| 1903 | #2,060 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1901 | #1,655 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4 | 13,355 | 0.7819% |
| 2024 | #4 | 12,011 | 0.7002% |
| 2023 | #7 | 11,084 | 0.6487% |
| 2022 | #10 | 10,814 | 0.6199% |
| 2021 | #10 | 9,597 | 0.5490% |
| 2020 | #23 | 8,637 | 0.5007% |
| 2019 | #36 | 7,894 | 0.4402% |
| 2018 | #44 | 7,088 | 0.3904% |
| 2017 | #61 | 5,970 | 0.3226% |
| 2016 | #83 | 4,910 | 0.2588% |
| 2015 | #99 | 4,155 | 0.2168% |
| 2014 | #126 | 3,228 | 0.1681% |
| 2013 | #167 | 2,429 | 0.1284% |
| 2012 | #194 | 1,945 | 0.1026% |
| 2011 | #230 | 1,573 | 0.0828% |
| 2010 | #259 | 1,333 | 0.0695% |
| 2009 | #276 | 1,239 | 0.0625% |
| 2008 | #294 | 1,139 | 0.0558% |
| 2007 | #301 | 1,137 | 0.0548% |
| 2006 | #295 | 1,133 | 0.0551% |
| 2005 | #299 | 1,095 | 0.0548% |
| 2004 | #313 | 1,005 | 0.0506% |
| 2003 | #309 | 964 | 0.0488% |
| 2002 | #300 | 975 | 0.0502% |
| 2001 | #306 | 935 | 0.0481% |
| 2000 | #312 | 934 | 0.0476% |
| 1999 | #314 | 913 | 0.0475% |
| 1998 | #291 | 983 | 0.0514% |
| 1997 | #291 | 956 | 0.0507% |
| 1996 | #294 | 905 | 0.0478% |
| 1995 | #284 | 956 | 0.0502% |
| 1994 | #291 | 940 | 0.0487% |
| 1993 | #277 | 1,036 | 0.0528% |
| 1992 | #259 | 1,092 | 0.0547% |
| 1991 | #251 | 1,097 | 0.0543% |
| 1990 | #233 | 1,231 | 0.0599% |
| 1989 | #216 | 1,293 | 0.0646% |
| 1988 | #211 | 1,238 | 0.0647% |
| 1987 | #206 | 1,217 | 0.0652% |
| 1986 | #200 | 1,257 | 0.0683% |
| 1985 | #201 | 1,211 | 0.0655% |
| 1984 | #213 | 1,069 | 0.0592% |
| 1983 | #206 | 1,156 | 0.0645% |
| 1982 | #207 | 1,191 | 0.0656% |
| 1981 | #218 | 1,133 | 0.0632% |
| 1980 | #206 | 1,194 | 0.0669% |
| 1979 | #198 | 1,238 | 0.0719% |
| 1978 | #195 | 1,212 | 0.0738% |
| 1977 | #194 | 1,223 | 0.0744% |
| 1976 | #189 | 1,174 | 0.0748% |
| 1975 | #189 | 1,197 | 0.0767% |
| 1974 | #180 | 1,268 | 0.0806% |
| 1973 | #175 | 1,342 | 0.0861% |
| 1972 | #174 | 1,422 | 0.0877% |
| 1971 | #166 | 1,665 | 0.0941% |
| 1970 | #160 | 1,829 | 0.0984% |
| 1969 | #153 | 1,945 | 0.1088% |
| 1968 | #149 | 1,887 | 0.1086% |
| 1967 | #149 | 1,854 | 0.1063% |
| 1966 | #149 | 1,905 | 0.1068% |
| 1965 | #143 | 2,141 | 0.1151% |
| 1964 | #152 | 2,169 | 0.1088% |
| 1963 | #142 | 2,386 | 0.1175% |
| 1962 | #146 | 2,316 | 0.1120% |
| 1961 | #151 | 2,301 | 0.1083% |
| 1960 | #149 | 2,382 | 0.1117% |
| 1959 | #146 | 2,399 | 0.1124% |
| 1958 | #140 | 2,503 | 0.1179% |
| 1957 | #132 | 2,760 | 0.1279% |
| 1956 | #119 | 2,955 | 0.1397% |
| 1955 | #120 | 2,977 | 0.1445% |
| 1954 | #115 | 3,073 | 0.1507% |
| 1953 | #112 | 2,937 | 0.1489% |
| 1952 | #100 | 3,268 | 0.1681% |
| 1951 | #99 | 3,217 | 0.1709% |
| 1950 | #99 | 2,960 | 0.1653% |
| 1949 | #100 | 3,041 | 0.1714% |
| 1948 | #104 | 2,830 | 0.1613% |
| 1947 | #102 | 2,927 | 0.1600% |
| 1946 | #101 | 2,612 | 0.1608% |
| 1945 | #101 | 2,347 | 0.1744% |
| 1944 | #96 | 2,574 | 0.1889% |
| 1943 | #96 | 2,616 | 0.1833% |
| 1942 | #91 | 2,665 | 0.1930% |
| 1941 | #95 | 2,330 | 0.1897% |
| 1940 | #90 | 2,306 | 0.1989% |
| 1939 | #90 | 2,196 | 0.1984% |
| 1938 | #84 | 2,361 | 0.2129% |
| 1937 | #86 | 2,315 | 0.2170% |
| 1936 | #87 | 2,219 | 0.2139% |
| 1935 | #79 | 2,433 | 0.2336% |
| 1934 | #74 | 2,523 | 0.2443% |
| 1933 | #68 | 2,611 | 0.2633% |
| 1932 | #67 | 2,674 | 0.2561% |
| 1931 | #70 | 2,667 | 0.2565% |
| 1930 | #67 | 2,958 | 0.2696% |
| 1929 | #65 | 2,902 | 0.2698% |
| 1928 | #66 | 2,917 | 0.2634% |
| 1927 | #62 | 3,124 | 0.2772% |
| 1926 | #63 | 3,129 | 0.2818% |
| 1925 | #63 | 3,226 | 0.2891% |
| 1924 | #65 | 3,225 | 0.2847% |
| 1923 | #62 | 3,157 | 0.2880% |
| 1922 | #62 | 3,216 | 0.2955% |
| 1921 | #65 | 3,172 | 0.2880% |
| 1920 | #63 | 3,219 | 0.3024% |
| 1919 | #54 | 3,424 | 0.3493% |
| 1918 | #64 | 3,143 | 0.3101% |
| 1917 | #63 | 2,809 | 0.3035% |
| 1916 | #65 | 2,641 | 0.2967% |
| 1915 | #64 | 2,504 | 0.2951% |
| 1914 | #64 | 1,929 | 0.2946% |
| 1913 | #60 | 1,650 | 0.3219% |
| 1912 | #52 | 1,561 | 0.3631% |
| 1911 | #56 | 753 | 0.3332% |
| 1910 | #54 | 692 | 0.3563% |
| 1909 | #51 | 595 | 0.3628% |
| 1908 | #47 | 643 | 0.4166% |
| 1907 | #38 | 712 | 0.4849% |
| 1906 | #38 | 688 | 0.5167% |
| 1905 | #33 | 834 | 0.6304% |
| 1904 | #30 | 834 | 0.6509% |
| 1903 | #36 | 663 | 0.5561% |
| 1902 | #34 | 642 | 0.5234% |
| 1901 | #43 | 450 | 0.4227% |
| 1900 | #61 | 429 | 0.2851% |
| 1899 | #78 | 252 | 0.2373% |
| 1898 | #75 | 281 | 0.2290% |
| 1897 | #85 | 215 | 0.1907% |
| 1896 | #84 | 241 | 0.2016% |
| 1895 | #93 | 208 | 0.1772% |
| 1894 | #82 | 241 | 0.2082% |
| 1893 | #90 | 209 | 0.1861% |
| 1892 | #83 | 239 | 0.1958% |
| 1891 | #76 | 224 | 0.2214% |
| 1890 | #89 | 190 | 0.1711% |
| 1889 | #76 | 231 | 0.2089% |
| 1888 | #80 | 249 | 0.2060% |
| 1887 | #82 | 201 | 0.1982% |
| 1886 | #69 | 258 | 0.2329% |
| 1885 | #84 | 199 | 0.1846% |
| 1884 | #81 | 211 | 0.1844% |
| 1883 | #81 | 185 | 0.1768% |
| 1882 | #75 | 232 | 0.2041% |
| 1881 | #79 | 178 | 0.1767% |
| 1880 | #70 | 232 | 0.2100% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
