Teodora Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: teh-OR-dah /te.oˈðo.ɾa/
Origin: Greek; Spanish; Italian; Slavic
Meaning: Greek: 'gift of God'; Spanish: 'theos' (God); Italian: 'theodora' (gift)
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Teodora has its roots in the Greek name Theodora, which is derived from the elements "theos," meaning "god," and "doron," meaning "gift." This etymology conveys the literal meaning of "gift of God." The name was adopted into Latin as Theodora and subsequently made its way into various languages, including Old French and eventually English, where it has been used since the medieval period. The transition into English was facilitated by the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which brought many Latin and Greek names into the English lexicon.
Historically, the name Teodora has been borne by several notable figures. One of the most prominent was Empress Theodora of Byzantium, who lived in the 6th century and was the wife of Emperor Justinian I.
She is remembered for her intelligence, political acumen, and significant influence on her husband's reign. The name has also appeared in various religious contexts, with saints bearing the name, including Saint Theodora of Alexandria, who is celebrated in the Christian tradition.
The name's presence in hagiographies and ecclesiastical texts contributed to its enduring legacy throughout the Middle Ages. Culturally, Teodora has been associated with themes of divine favor and grace, reflecting its meaning as a "gift from God." This association has made the name appealing in various Christian communities, where names that signify divine blessings are often favored.
The diminutive form, Dora, has also been used historically, further embedding the name within cultural narratives. Overall, Teodora's etymological roots, historical significance, and cultural resonance have contributed to its lasting presence in various cultures.
Famous people named Teodora
In this section, you will find notable people named Teodora. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Teodora who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Teodora who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Teodora of Bulgaria was a Byzantine Empress best known for her marriage to Emperor John II Komnenos and her influence in the Byzantine court.
Teodora Vasilescu is a Romanian artist best known for her contemporary paintings and exhibitions in Europe.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Teodora, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Teodora. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Teodora was first seen in the United States in 1893.
Teodora has ranked as high as #861 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Texas, California, New York, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Teodora has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Teodora is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Teodora was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Teodora (2021)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Teodora.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 1999 | 8 |
| 1998 | 9 |
| 1997 | 10 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1995 | 9 |
| 1994 | 6 |
| 1993 | 9 |
| 1992 | 8 |
| 1991 | 10 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1987 | 9 |
| 1986 | 8 |
| 1985 | 8 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1983 | 9 |
| 1982 | 5 |
| 1981 | 7 |
| 1980 | 12 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1978 | 8 |
| 1977 | 12 |
| 1976 | 5 |
| 1975 | 7 |
| 1974 | 6 |
| 1972 | 9 |
| 1971 | 5 |
| 1969 | 8 |
| 1968 | 7 |
| 1966 | 7 |
| 1965 | 6 |
| 1963 | 5 |
| 1959 | 10 |
| 1958 | 10 |
| 1956 | 6 |
| 1955 | 8 |
| 1953 | 11 |
| 1952 | 5 |
| 1951 | 8 |
| 1950 | 6 |
| 1949 | 15 |
| 1948 | 11 |
| 1947 | 10 |
| 1946 | 12 |
| 1945 | 8 |
| 1944 | 13 |
| 1943 | 11 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 12 |
| 1940 | 16 |
| 1939 | 15 |
| 1938 | 12 |
| 1937 | 14 |
| 1936 | 11 |
| 1935 | 9 |
| 1934 | 15 |
| 1933 | 23 |
| 1932 | 12 |
| 1931 | 21 |
| 1930 | 12 |
| 1929 | 21 |
| 1928 | 22 |
| 1927 | 18 |
| 1926 | 17 |
| 1925 | 22 |
| 1924 | 18 |
| 1923 | 19 |
| 1922 | 15 |
| 1921 | 23 |
| 1920 | 15 |
| 1919 | 17 |
| 1918 | 14 |
| 1917 | 20 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1915 | 10 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1913 | 7 |
| 1912 | 9 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1910 | 10 |
| 1909 | 10 |
| 1907 | 10 |
| 1905 | 5 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1899 | 7 |
| 1896 | 6 |
| 1893 | 5 |