Theophilus Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: thee-AH-fi-lus /θiˈɑːfɪləs/
Origin: Greek; Latin
Meaning: Greek: 'God's friend'; Latin: 'friend of God'
Historical & Cultural Background
Theophilus is derived from the Greek name Θεόφιλος (Theophilos), which is composed of two elements: 'theos' meaning 'god' and 'philos' meaning 'friend' or 'beloved'. This etymological combination conveys the literal meaning of 'friend of God' or 'beloved of God'.
The name entered the English language through the Latin form Theophilus, which was used in early Christian texts and subsequently adopted into Old French before making its way into Middle English. Historically, Theophilus appears in various significant contexts.
One notable figure is Theophilus of Antioch, a second-century Christian apologist who wrote a defense of Christianity, known as 'Ad Autolycum'. Additionally, the name is associated with a prominent bishop of Alexandria, Theophilus, who served in the late fourth and early fifth centuries and was known for his opposition to paganism and his role in the development of early Christian doctrine.
The name also appears in the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, where it is addressed to a person named Theophilus, suggesting a patron or a seeker of knowledge. Culturally, Theophilus has resonated within Christian traditions, symbolizing a close relationship with the divine.
The name has been borne by various saints and ecclesiastical figures throughout history, contributing to its enduring presence in religious contexts. The diminutive form 'Theo' has also emerged, reflecting a more informal or affectionate usage while maintaining the original name's sacred connotations.
Overall, Theophilus encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural significance, linking it to themes of faith and divine friendship.
Famous people named Theophilus
In this section, you will find notable people named Theophilus. 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 Theophilus who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Theophilus 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.
Theophilus London is a musician best known for his albums Timez Are Weird These Days, Vibes, and Bebey.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Theophilus, 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 Theophilus. 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 Theophilus was first seen in the United States in 1882.
Theophilus has ranked as high as #1325 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Georgia, Washington, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Theophilus has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Theophilus 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 Theophilus was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Theophilus (2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 7 | |
| TX | 7 | |
| WA | 5 |
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 Theophilus.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 65 |
| 2023 | 63 |
| 2022 | 68 |
| 2021 | 44 |
| 2020 | 43 |
| 2019 | 42 |
| 2018 | 49 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2016 | 48 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2014 | 39 |
| 2013 | 38 |
| 2012 | 36 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2009 | 17 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2007 | 26 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2005 | 24 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2000 | 21 |
| 1999 | 24 |
| 1998 | 24 |
| 1997 | 23 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1994 | 14 |
| 1993 | 13 |
| 1992 | 20 |
| 1991 | 12 |
| 1990 | 17 |
| 1989 | 14 |
| 1988 | 23 |
| 1987 | 14 |
| 1986 | 13 |
| 1985 | 13 |
| 1984 | 12 |
| 1983 | 13 |
| 1982 | 17 |
| 1981 | 22 |
| 1980 | 16 |
| 1979 | 19 |
| 1978 | 15 |
| 1977 | 32 |
| 1976 | 11 |
| 1975 | 22 |
| 1974 | 15 |
| 1973 | 15 |
| 1972 | 15 |
| 1971 | 21 |
| 1970 | 11 |
| 1969 | 13 |
| 1968 | 14 |
| 1967 | 19 |
| 1966 | 17 |
| 1965 | 18 |
| 1964 | 11 |
| 1963 | 13 |
| 1962 | 13 |
| 1961 | 12 |
| 1960 | 16 |
| 1959 | 16 |
| 1958 | 17 |
| 1957 | 27 |
| 1956 | 18 |
| 1955 | 24 |
| 1954 | 28 |
| 1953 | 20 |
| 1952 | 21 |
| 1951 | 21 |
| 1950 | 22 |
| 1949 | 25 |
| 1948 | 25 |
| 1947 | 19 |
| 1946 | 18 |
| 1945 | 13 |
| 1944 | 14 |
| 1943 | 9 |
| 1942 | 12 |
| 1941 | 7 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1939 | 9 |
| 1938 | 17 |
| 1937 | 10 |
| 1936 | 11 |
| 1935 | 8 |
| 1934 | 15 |
| 1933 | 16 |
| 1932 | 12 |
| 1931 | 19 |
| 1930 | 18 |
| 1929 | 17 |
| 1928 | 15 |
| 1927 | 19 |
| 1926 | 12 |
| 1925 | 17 |
| 1924 | 30 |
| 1923 | 10 |
| 1922 | 22 |
| 1921 | 28 |
| 1920 | 21 |
| 1919 | 24 |
| 1918 | 24 |
| 1917 | 20 |
| 1916 | 15 |
| 1915 | 20 |
| 1914 | 15 |
| 1913 | 15 |
| 1912 | 7 |
| 1911 | 9 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1909 | 7 |
| 1907 | 6 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1888 | 5 |
| 1885 | 5 |
| 1884 | 5 |
| 1882 | 5 |