Theodor Boy

Popularity: #862 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: THEE-uh-dor //ˈθiːədɔːr//

Origin: Greek; German; Scandinavian

Meaning: Greek: 'gift of God'; German: 'brave people'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Theodor has its roots in the Greek name Θεόδωρος (Theódoros), which is composed of the elements ‘θεός’ (theos), meaning ‘God,’ and ‘δωρον’ (doron), meaning ‘gift.’ This etymology conveys the literal meaning of ‘gift of God.’ The name was adopted into Latin as Theodorus and subsequently made its way into various languages, including Old French as Teodor and eventually into English as Theodor or Theodore. The name has been borne by several notable historical figures, particularly in the early Christian era.

One of the most significant was Saint Theodore of Amasea, a martyr who lived in the 4th century and is venerated in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. His feast day is celebrated on February 17.

The name gained further prominence through various Byzantine emperors and saints, contributing to its spread across Europe during the Middle Ages. The Latinized form Theodorus was also used in the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible, which helped to disseminate the name among Christian communities.

Culturally, Theodor has been associated with nobility and leadership, often linked to figures of authority and wisdom throughout history. The name has appeared in various literary and historical texts, reinforcing its significance in different cultures.

In addition, diminutive forms such as Theo have emerged, reflecting a more familiar or affectionate usage while maintaining the original's gravitas. The enduring nature of Theodor can be attributed to its strong religious connotations and the respect afforded to those who bore the name in influential roles.

Famous people named Theodor

In this section, you will find notable people named Theodor. 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 Theodor who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Theodor 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.

Theodor Seuss Geisel is an author and illustrator best known for The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.

Theodor W. Adorno was a philosopher and sociologist best known for Dialectic of Enlightenment, The Authoritarian Personality, and Aesthetic Theory.

Fictional characters named Theodor

The following list of fictional characters named Theodor is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Theodor is a fictional character from the animated film The Secret of NIMH. He is a kind and wise rat who helps Mrs. Brisby in her quest to save her family.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Theodor, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

AlexanderMaximilianJulianSebastianLeonardFelix

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Theodor. 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.

TheaTobiasTheoTitusTobiahTomasThaddeusThorin

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Theodor was first seen in the United States in 1884.

Theodor has ranked as high as #3892 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Washington.

In the past 5 years the name Theodor has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Theodor 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 Theodor was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Theodor.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 76 76
2024 71 71
2023 86 86
2022 88 88
2021 70 70
2020 79 79
2019 85 85
2018 65 65
2017 54 54
2016 62 62
2015 54 54
2014 56 56
2013 45 45
2012 20 20
2011 25 25
2010 26 26
2009 21 21
2008 20 20
2007 21 21
2006 16 16
2005 22 22
2004 18 18
2003 12 12
2002 24 24
2001 16 16
2000 19 19
1999 16 16
1998 19 19
1997 6 6
1996 11 11
1995 16 16
1994 11 11
1993 11 11
1992 13 13
1991 12 12
1990 12 12
1989 16 16
1988 11 11
1987 14 14
1986 8 8
1985 11 11
1984 9 9
1983 7 7
1981 11 11
1980 11 11
1978 10 10
1977 9 9
1976 13 13
1974 9 9
1973 7 7
1972 8 8
1971 11 11
1970 12 12
1969 11 11
1968 17 17
1967 8 8
1966 11 11
1965 11 11
1964 11 11
1963 17 17
1962 8 8
1961 15 15
1960 15 15
1959 10 10
1958 16 16
1957 13 13
1956 21 21
1955 13 13
1954 12 12
1953 14 14
1952 14 14
1951 15 15
1950 11 11
1949 8 8
1948 10 10
1947 13 13
1946 18 18
1945 5 5
1944 14 14
1943 13 13
1942 11 11
1941 10 10
1940 11 11
1939 11 11
1938 12 12
1937 10 10
1936 12 12
1935 10 10
1934 12 12
1933 12 12
1932 20 20
1931 8 8
1930 13 13
1929 13 13
1928 13 13
1927 19 19
1926 18 18
1925 16 16
1924 13 13
1923 9 9
1922 12 12
1921 15 15
1920 11 11
1919 12 12
1918 18 18
1917 23 23
1916 15 15
1915 15 15
1914 15 15
1913 12 12
1892 6 6
1887 5 5
1884 5 5

Top States for Theodor (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 8
36%
MN 7
32%
TX 7
32%