Boy nameCurrently #4 in the USRising
Theodore
THEE-uh-dor//ˈθiːədɔːr//
3 syllablesPeak year: 20248 lettersStarts with T
Meaning & origin
Gift of God
Theodore comes from Greek elements meaning 'God' and 'gift', and has been borne by popes, saints, and US President Theodore Roosevelt. Its vintage warmth and cheerful nickname Teddy have driven a major modern revival.
Theodore's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Theodore |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 232 |
| 1881 | 178 |
| 1882 | 232 |
| 1883 | 185 |
| 1884 | 211 |
| 1885 | 199 |
| 1886 | 258 |
| 1887 | 201 |
| 1888 | 249 |
| 1889 | 231 |
| 1890 | 190 |
| 1891 | 224 |
| 1892 | 239 |
| 1893 | 209 |
| 1894 | 241 |
| 1895 | 208 |
| 1896 | 241 |
| 1897 | 215 |
| 1898 | 281 |
| 1899 | 252 |
| 1900 | 429 |
| 1901 | 456 |
| 1902 | 642 |
| 1903 | 668 |
| 1904 | 834 |
| 1905 | 834 |
| 1906 | 693 |
| 1907 | 712 |
| 1908 | 648 |
| 1909 | 603 |
| 1910 | 700 |
| 1911 | 763 |
| 1912 | 1,569 |
| 1913 | 1,656 |
| 1914 | 1,936 |
| 1915 | 2,511 |
| 1916 | 2,649 |
| 1917 | 2,820 |
| 1918 | 3,159 |
| 1919 | 3,441 |
| 1920 | 3,235 |
| 1921 | 3,179 |
| 1922 | 3,230 |
| 1923 | 3,176 |
| 1924 | 3,240 |
| 1925 | 3,241 |
| 1926 | 3,146 |
| 1927 | 3,148 |
| 1928 | 2,942 |
| 1929 | 2,932 |
| 1930 | 2,978 |
| 1931 | 2,687 |
| 1932 | 2,689 |
| 1933 | 2,623 |
| 1934 | 2,541 |
| 1935 | 2,439 |
| 1936 | 2,228 |
| 1937 | 2,326 |
| 1938 | 2,370 |
| 1939 | 2,207 |
| 1940 | 2,313 |
| 1941 | 2,335 |
| 1942 | 2,671 |
| 1943 | 2,621 |
| 1944 | 2,585 |
| 1945 | 2,353 |
| 1946 | 2,618 |
| 1947 | 2,932 |
| 1948 | 2,841 |
| 1949 | 3,047 |
| 1950 | 2,968 |
| 1951 | 3,224 |
| 1952 | 3,278 |
| 1953 | 2,950 |
| 1954 | 3,086 |
| 1955 | 2,984 |
| 1956 | 2,960 |
| 1957 | 2,768 |
| 1958 | 2,518 |
| 1959 | 2,407 |
| 1960 | 2,393 |
| 1961 | 2,316 |
| 1962 | 2,328 |
| 1963 | 2,395 |
| 1964 | 2,179 |
| 1965 | 2,148 |
| 1966 | 1,912 |
| 1967 | 1,867 |
| 1968 | 1,892 |
| 1969 | 1,957 |
| 1970 | 1,837 |
| 1971 | 1,676 |
| 1972 | 1,422 |
| 1973 | 1,350 |
| 1974 | 1,287 |
| 1975 | 1,202 |
| 1976 | 1,187 |
| 1977 | 1,231 |
| 1978 | 1,224 |
| 1979 | 1,245 |
| 1980 | 1,200 |
| 1981 | 1,144 |
| 1982 | 1,197 |
| 1983 | 1,167 |
| 1984 | 1,074 |
| 1985 | 1,227 |
| 1986 | 1,270 |
| 1987 | 1,228 |
| 1988 | 1,247 |
| 1989 | 1,293 |
| 1990 | 1,231 |
| 1991 | 1,097 |
| 1992 | 1,092 |
| 1993 | 1,036 |
| 1994 | 940 |
| 1995 | 956 |
| 1996 | 905 |
| 1997 | 956 |
| 1998 | 983 |
| 1999 | 913 |
| 2000 | 934 |
| 2001 | 935 |
| 2002 | 975 |
| 2003 | 964 |
| 2004 | 1,005 |
| 2005 | 1,095 |
| 2006 | 1,133 |
| 2007 | 1,137 |
| 2008 | 1,139 |
| 2009 | 1,239 |
| 2010 | 1,333 |
| 2011 | 1,573 |
| 2012 | 1,950 |
| 2013 | 2,429 |
| 2014 | 3,228 |
| 2015 | 4,155 |
| 2016 | 4,917 |
| 2017 | 5,970 |
| 2018 | 7,088 |
| 2019 | 7,901 |
| 2020 | 8,651 |
| 2021 | 9,605 |
| 2022 | 10,829 |
| 2023 | 11,095 |
| 2024 | 12,024 |
Theodore through the decades
- Theodore peaked in 2024, when 12,024 babies were named Theodore in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Theodore has risen 406% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Theodore currently ranks #4 in the US and is on the rise.
Nicknames
TheoTeddy
Variants & spellings
ThéodoreFyodor
Famous people named Theodore
- Theodore Roosevelt — US president