Theordore Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: thee-OR-dor /θiˈɔrdɔr/
Origin: Greek; English
Meaning: Greek: 'gift of God'; English: 'brave people'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Theodore originates from the Greek name Θεόδωρος (Theodoros), which is composed of the elements θεός (theos), meaning 'god,' and δῶρον (doron), meaning 'gift.' Thus, the literal translation of Theodore is 'gift of God.' The name was adopted into Latin as Theodorus and subsequently made its way into Old French as Théodore before entering the English language. This linguistic journey reflects the name's deep roots in classical antiquity and its adaptation through various cultures and languages over centuries.
The name Theodore has been borne by several notable historical figures, contributing to its prominence. One significant early bearer was Saint Theodore of Amasea, a Christian martyr from the 4th century, whose feast day is celebrated in various Christian traditions.
Additionally, the name was popularized in the Byzantine Empire, where several emperors and saints carried it, further embedding it in the Christian tradition. The name also appears in various historical texts, including the King James Bible, where the Greek form is referenced in the context of early Christian writings.
Culturally, the name Theodore has been associated with wisdom and leadership, often linked to figures of authority and respect. Its use in literature and art has reinforced its positive connotations, with various characters named Theodore appearing in classic works.
The diminutive form Theo has also emerged, reflecting a more informal and affectionate usage, while still retaining the original name's gravitas. Overall, Theodore's enduring legacy can be attributed to its rich etymological background, historical significance, and cultural resonance across different eras.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Theordore, 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 Theordore. 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 Theordore was first seen in the United States in 1913.
Theordore has ranked as high as #877 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Theordore has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Theordore 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 Theordore was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Theordore
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.
No state data available for this year.
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 Theordore.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1990 | 7 |
| 1987 | 5 |
| 1985 | 6 |
| 1983 | 5 |
| 1981 | 6 |
| 1979 | 7 |
| 1978 | 5 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1974 | 5 |
| 1973 | 11 |
| 1972 | 5 |
| 1970 | 7 |
| 1969 | 6 |
| 1967 | 7 |
| 1966 | 5 |
| 1965 | 6 |
| 1964 | 12 |
| 1963 | 11 |
| 1962 | 12 |
| 1961 | 9 |
| 1960 | 5 |
| 1959 | 8 |
| 1958 | 8 |
| 1957 | 8 |
| 1956 | 8 |
| 1955 | 11 |
| 1953 | 7 |
| 1952 | 10 |
| 1951 | 8 |
| 1949 | 5 |
| 1947 | 6 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1945 | 6 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1942 | 6 |
| 1941 | 5 |
| 1939 | 9 |
| 1937 | 7 |
| 1934 | 6 |
| 1933 | 5 |
| 1932 | 5 |
| 1931 | 8 |
| 1930 | 6 |
| 1928 | 9 |
| 1927 | 6 |
| 1926 | 9 |
| 1925 | 10 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1923 | 7 |
| 1921 | 8 |
| 1920 | 13 |
| 1919 | 7 |
| 1918 | 7 |
| 1915 | 8 |
| 1913 | 5 |