gender neutral
Theodore
gift of God, divine gift
About Theodore
There's something wonderfully reassuring about Theodore—a name that has weathered centuries while remaining perpetually relevant. This classic choice offers parents the comfort of tradition wrapped in genuine warmth. Theodore suggests intelligence, kindness, and reliability, qualities any parent would celebrate in their child.
The name's versatility ranks among its greatest strengths. Little Theo brings playfulness, Teddy adds cuddliness, and the full Theodore commands respect in professional environments. This flexibility allows the name to grow seamlessly with its bearer.
Theodore has experienced remarkable renaissance in recent decades, climbing popularity charts while maintaining its dignified character. Unlike trendy options that may date themselves, Theodore remains timelessly appropriate.
The name suits various personality types equally well—whether raising a future scientist, artist, athlete, or entrepreneur. Theodore provides a solid foundation without limiting possibilities. For parents seeking something proven yet never boring, something classic yet currently stylish, Theodore represents an impeccable choice that honors the past while embracing the future.
Popularity of the Name Theodore
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #70 | ||||
| 1881 | #79 | ||||
| 1882 | #75 | ||||
| 1883 | #81 | ||||
| 1884 | #81 | ||||
| 1885 | #84 | ||||
| 1886 | #69 | ||||
| 1887 | #82 | ||||
| 1888 | #80 | ||||
| 1889 | #76 | ||||
| 1890 | #89 | ||||
| 1891 | #76 | ||||
| 1892 | #83 | ||||
| 1893 | #90 | ||||
| 1894 | #82 | ||||
| 1895 | #93 | ||||
| 1896 | #84 | ||||
| 1897 | #85 | ||||
| 1898 | #75 | ||||
| 1899 | #78 | ||||
| 1900 | #61 | ||||
| 1901 | #43 | ||||
| 1902 | #34 | ||||
| 1903 | #36 | ||||
| 1904 | #30 | ||||
| 1905 | #33 | #118 | |||
| 1906 | #38 | ||||
| 1907 | #38 | ||||
| 1908 | #47 | #119 | |||
| 1909 | #51 | #135 | |||
| 1910 | #54 | ||||
| 1911 | #56 | #130 | |||
| 1912 | #52 | #108 | |||
| 1913 | #60 | #147 | |||
| 1914 | #64 | ||||
| 1915 | #64 | ||||
| 1916 | #65 | ||||
| 1917 | #63 | #132 | |||
| 1918 | #64 | ||||
| 1919 | #54 | ||||
| 1920 | #63 | #150 | |||
| 1921 | #65 | ||||
| 1922 | #62 | ||||
| 1923 | #62 | ||||
| 1924 | #65 | ||||
| 1925 | #63 | #159 | |||
| 1926 | #63 | ||||
| 1927 | #62 | ||||
| 1928 | #66 | ||||
| 1929 | #65 | ||||
| 1930 | #67 | ||||
| 1931 | #70 | ||||
| 1932 | #67 | ||||
| 1933 | #68 | ||||
| 1934 | #74 | ||||
| 1935 | #79 | ||||
| 1936 | #87 | ||||
| 1937 | #86 | ||||
| 1938 | #84 | ||||
| 1939 | #90 | ||||
| 1940 | #90 | ||||
| 1941 | #95 | ||||
| 1942 | #91 | ||||
| 1943 | #96 | ||||
| 1944 | #96 | ||||
| 1945 | #101 | ||||
| 1946 | #101 | ||||
| 1947 | #102 | ||||
| 1948 | #104 | ||||
| 1949 | #100 | ||||
| 1950 | #99 | ||||
| 1951 | #99 | ||||
| 1952 | #100 | ||||
| 1953 | #112 | ||||
| 1954 | #115 | ||||
| 1955 | #120 | ||||
| 1956 | #119 | ||||
| 1957 | #132 | ||||
| 1958 | #140 | ||||
| 1959 | #146 | ||||
| 1960 | #149 | ||||
| 1961 | #151 | ||||
| 1962 | #146 | ||||
| 1963 | #142 | ||||
| 1964 | #152 | #230 | |||
| 1965 | #143 | ||||
| 1966 | #149 | ||||
| 1967 | #149 | ||||
| 1968 | #149 | ||||
| 1969 | #153 | ||||
| 1970 | #160 | ||||
| 1971 | #166 | ||||
| 1972 | #175 | ||||
| 1973 | #175 | ||||
| 1974 | #180 | ||||
| 1975 | #189 | ||||
| 1976 | #189 | ||||
| 1977 | #194 | ||||
| 1978 | #195 | ||||
| 1979 | #198 | ||||
| 1980 | #206 | ||||
| 1981 | #218 | ||||
| 1982 | #207 | ||||
| 1983 | #206 | ||||
| 1984 | #213 | ||||
| 1985 | #201 | ||||
| 1986 | #200 | ||||
| 1987 | #206 | ||||
| 1988 | #211 | #372 | |||
| 1989 | #216 | #351 | |||
| 1990 | #233 | #275 | |||
| 1991 | #251 | #358 | |||
| 1992 | #259 | #333 | #371 | ||
| 1993 | #277 | #267 | #389 | ||
| 1994 | #291 | #433 | |||
| 1995 | #284 | #297 | #389 | ||
| 1996 | #294 | #311 | #434 | ||
| 1997 | #291 | #217 | #376 | ||
| 1998 | #289 | #206 | #274 | #442 | #334 |
| 1999 | #314 | #200 | #222 | #380 | |
| 2000 | #312 | #191 | #313 | #327 | |
| 2001 | #306 | #187 | #245 | #351 | |
| 2002 | #300 | #173 | #244 | #576 | #269 |
| 2003 | #309 | #175 | #223 | #497 | #270 |
| 2004 | #313 | #186 | #170 | #499 | #280 |
| 2005 | #299 | #172 | #290 | #295 | |
| 2006 | #295 | #165 | #226 | #381 | #284 |
| 2007 | #301 | #152 | #134 | #429 | #285 |
| 2008 | #294 | #143 | #141 | #690 | #258 |
| 2009 | #276 | #145 | #173 | #597 | #233 |
| 2010 | #259 | #147 | #172 | #865 | #207 |
| 2011 | #230 | #133 | #113 | #384 | #143 |
| 2012 | #194 | #108 | #121 | #322 | #138 |
| 2013 | #167 | #85 | #85 | #294 | #115 |
| 2014 | #126 | #64 | #63 | #230 | #75 |
| 2015 | #99 | #51 | #62 | #166 | #55 |
| 2016 | #83 | #44 | #59 | #213 | #42 |
| 2017 | #61 | #38 | #32 | #161 | #27 |
| 2018 | #44 | #31 | #37 | #95 | #20 |
| 2019 | #36 | #20 | #15 | #76 | #15 |
| 2020 | #23 | #16 | #15 | #68 | #12 |
| 2021 | #10 | #14 | #8 | #74 | #6 |
| 2022 | #10 | #11 | #6 | #59 | #5 |
| 2023 | #7 | #10 | #6 | #70 | #3 |
| 2024 | #4 | #9 | #7 | #61 | #3 |
| 2025 | #4 | #10 | #5 | #45 | #2 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Theodore
- Theodorus
- Teodoro
- Todor
Names Similar to Theodore
Nicknames for Theodore
- Ted
- Theo
- Teddy
- Teo
- Dore
Famous People Named Theodore
| Theodore Roosevelt | 26th President of the United States |
| Theodore Maiman | Inventor of the laser |
| Theodore Dreiser | American novelist |
| Theodore Geisel | Beloved children's author |
| Theodore Sturgeon | Prolific science fiction writer |
| Theodore McCarrick | American Cardinal of the Catholic Church |
| Theodore Levitt | American economist and Harvard Business School professor |
| Theodore White | Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian |
| Theodore Dalrymple | British writer and retired doctor |
| Theodore Bikel | Austrian-American actor and folk singer |
| Theodore Kaczynski | Also known as the Unabomber, an American domestic terrorist |
| Theodore Long | American professional wrestling personality |
| Theodore Weld | American abolitionist and author |
| Theodore Sorensen | Advisor and speechwriter to President John F. Kennedy |
| Theodore Postol | American physicist and professor |
| Theodore William Richards | Nobel Prize-winning chemist |
| Theodore Simon | French psychologist and co-creator of the Binet-Simon intelligence scale |
| Theodore Roethke | American poet and Pulitzer Prize winner |
| Theodore Herzl | Austrian journalist and founder of modern political Zionism |
| Theodore Wirth | Swiss-born American landscape architect |
Characters Named Theodore
| Theodore "Ted" Mosby | From the TV show "How I Met Your Mother." |
| Theodore "Theo" Huxtable | From the TV show "The Cosby Show." |
| Theodore "Theo" Crapper | From the movie "The Hangover." |
| Theodore "Theo" Faron | From the movie "Children of Men." |
| Theodore "Laurie" Laurence | From the novel "Little Women." |
| Theodore "Theo" Raeken | From the TV show "Teen Wolf." |
| Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell | From the TV show "Prison Break." |
| Theodore "Tobias" Eaton | From the book series "Divergent." |
| Theodore "Theo" Galavan | From the TV show "Gotham." |
| Theodore "Theo" Kojak | From the TV show "Kojak." |
| Theodore "Theo" Tonin | From the TV show "Justified." |
| Theodore "Theo" Ratliff | From the NBA basketball player |
| Theodore "Theo" Nott | From the "Harry Potter" book series |
| Theodore "Teddy" Daniels | From the movie "Shutter Island." |
| Theodore "Theo" Hinton | From the movie "Dead Poets Society." |
| Theodore "Theo" Kaczynski | From the TV show "FBI." |
| Theodore "Theo" Carver | From the TV show "Days of Our Lives." |
| Theodore "Theo" Kojima | From the video game "Persona 3." |
| Theodore "Theo" Decker | From the novel "The Goldfinch." |
| Theodore "Theo" Fink | From the video game "Bioshock Infinite." |