Theodore (given name)

Theodore is a masculine given name. It comes from the Ancient Greek name Θεόδωρος (Theódoros), meaning "gift of God" (from the Ancient Greek words θεό, (theó) "God" and δῶρον (dṓron) "gift").MFnames.com – Origin and Meaning of Theodore The name was borne by several figures in ancient Greece, such as Theodorus of Samos and Theodorus of Byzantium.

The name has risen in popularity across the Anglosphere during the 2010s and 2020s. The character Ted Mosby on the popular American sitcom How I Met Your Mother, which aired from 2005 to 2014, might have influenced increased usage of the name. Modern parents more often use the diminutive Theo than Ted. Theodore was among the five most popular names for White newborn boys in the American state of Virginia in 2022. It has been among the ten most popular names for newborn boys nationally in the United States since 2021. It has been a similarly popular name for boys in Canada. The feminine form of Theodore is Theodora. In German, Theodore is the feminine form of Theodor.

Although similar to, and probably influenced by, the Germanic name Theodoric (and variants Theodoricus, Dietrich, Thierry, and others) have separate origins.

Variants and cognates Language Variant(s) Notes Albanian Teodor, Theodhor, Dhori Amharic Tewodros (ቴዎድሮስ) Arabic Tawadros ()HibatullahSimilar in translation to the Greek name Aramaic Teodoros (ܬܐܘܕܘܪܘܣ) Yahballaha (ܝܗܒܐܠܗܐ‎) Translation of original Greek Armenian Thoros (Թորոս) Astvacatur (Աստուածատուր), Asatur (Ասատուր) Translation of original Greek Belarusian Fiodar (Фёдар), Todar (Тодар), Teador (Тэадор) Bahdan (Багдан) Translation of Greek original Bulgarian Todor (Тодор), Teodor (Теодор) Božidar (Божидар), Bogdan (Богдан) Translation of original Greek Catalan Teodor Czech Teodor, Theodor Bohdan Translation of original Greek Danish Teodor, Theodor Dutch Theodoor, Theodorus English Theodore Esperanto Teodoro Estonian Theodor, Teodor, Tuudor, Tuudur Ethiopian and Eritrean Tedros (ቴድሮስ), Tewodros (ቴዎድሮስ) Finnish Teuvo, TeodorFrench Théodore Dieudonné Translation of original Greek Georgian Teodor (თევდორე) German Theodor Greek Theódoros (Θεόδωρος), Thódoros (Θόδωρος), Thodorís (Θοδωρής), Theodorákis (Θεοδωράκης), Theodósios (Θεοδόσιος, Theodosius), Thódos (Θώδος), Thódis (Θώδης), Dóros (Δώρος), Dóris (Δώρης), Theodhori (Θεοδορι) Hebrew Teodor (תאודור), Tiodor (תיאודור) Hungarian Tivadar, Tódor Indonesian Theodore, Theodorus, Theodor, Theodoor, Theo Irish Téadóir Italian Teodoro Donato, Donatello Similar in translation to the Greek name Kazakh Shodyr () Kudaibergen, Kūdaiberdi, Täñirbergen, Täñirberdi Similar in translation to the Greek name Latin Theodorus Latvian Teodors Lithuanian Teodoras Macedonia Teodor (Теодор) Norwegian Teodor, Theodor Polish Teodor Bożydar, Bogdan, Bohdan Translation of original Greek Portuguese Teodoro, Deodoro Romanian Tudor (also a surname), Teodor Bogdan From Slavic languages Russian Fyodor (Фёдор), Fedor (Федор), Feodor (Феодор) Bogdan (Богдан). Translation of original Greek Scottish Gaelic Feadair Serbo-Croatian Teodor (Теодор), Todor (Тодор) Božidar (Божидар), Bogdan (Богдан) Translation of original Greek Sicilian Teodoru Slovene Teodor SanskritDevadatta (देवदत्त) From Indic languages Spanish Teodoro Diosdado Translation of original Greek Swedish Teodor, Theodor Turkish Tevazirus From Greek via Arabic Ukrainian Fedir (Федір), Fedor (Федор), Teodor (Теодор), Khvedir (Хведір), Fedio (Федьо) Bohdan (Богдан), Bohodar (Богодар) Translation of original Greek Welsh Tewdwr

Diminutives Hypocorisms, calling names, or nicknames derived from Theodore can be:

Language Form Nickname(s) NotesBulgarianBožidarBožo (Божо)TeodorTeodor (Теодор): Teo (Тео), Teddy (Теди) TodorTosh(k)o (Тош(к)о)DanishT(h)eodorTeo and TheoDutchTheodoor, Theodorus Dorus, TheoEnglishTheodoreTed, Teddy, TheoFinnishTeodor, TeuvuTeoFrenchDieudonné, ThéodoreThéoGermanTheodorTheoGeorgianTeodor Tedo (თედო)Greekákis (άκης)Dhóros (Δώρος)ItalianTeodoroTeoNorwegianT(h)eodorTeo and TheoRussianFeodor, Fodor, Fyodor Fedya (Федя)UkrainianBogdan Bodya (Бодя)SwedishT(h)eodorTeo, Theo and Teddy

People named Theodore

Ancient world Ordered chronologically

Theodore Tiron (died 306), Byzantine martyr and Warrior Saint Theodore Stratelates (died 319), Byzantine martyr and Warrior Saint Theodore of Mopsuestia (c. 350 – 428), Byzantine bishop Theodore of Enaton, 5th-century Syrian Christian monk Theodore of Pherme, 4th-century Egyptian Christian monk Theodore of Tarsus (602–690), Archbishop of Canterbury Theodore (brother of Heraclius) (), Byzantine general Theodore (prefect of Egypt) (), Byzantine general Theodore Trithyrius (died 636), Byzantine treasurer and military commander Pope Theodore I, Pope from 642 to 649 Theodore I Calliopas, Exarch of Ravenna (643 – c. 645 and 653 – before 666) Theodore Abu Qurrah (c. 750 – c. 823), Christian Arab theologian Theodore the Studite (759–826), Byzantine Greek monk and abbot Pope Theodore II (840–897), Pope in 897 Theodore Gabras, 11th-century Byzantine military leader and martyr Theodore Prodromos (c. 1100 – c. 1165), Byzantine writer and poet Theodore Balsamon, 12th-century Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Theodore I Laskaris (c. 1174 – c. 1222), first Emperor of Nicaea Theodore Komnenos Doukas (died c. 1253), Emperor of Thessalonica Theodore II Laskaris (c. 1222 – 1258), Emperor of Nicaea Theodore Metochites (1270–1332), Byzantine statesman, author and philosopher Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria, Tsar of Bulgaria from 1300 to 1322 Theodore I Palaiologos (c. 1355 – 1407), Byzantine despot Theodore Kantakouzenos (died 1410), Byzantine nobleman Theodore II Palaiologos (c. 1396 – 1448), Byzantine despot

Modern world Ordered by last name, where available; otherwise chronologically Theodore I of Corsica (1694–1756), German adventurer who was briefly King of Corsica Pope Theodoros II of Alexandria (born 1952), leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria (born 1954), Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa Theodore Fred Abel (1896–1988), American sociology professor Theodore Abrahamson (1900–1978), member of the Wisconsin State Assembly Theodore C. Achilles (1905–1986), American diplomat Theodore Kwami Adzoe, Ghanaian Supreme Court Judge Theodore Agnew (born 1961), British businessman, Baron Agnew of Oulton, life peer, and Minister of State Ted Ainley (1903–1968), British trade union leader and communist activist Theodore Albrecht (born 1945), American music historian Theodore C. Almquist (1941–2010), United States Air Force general Theodore Anderson (1878–1926), Australian cricketer Theodore Wilbur Anderson (1918–2016), American mathematician and statistician Theodore Angelopoulos (born 1943), Greek shipping and steel magnate Theodore Annemann (1907–1942), American professional magician Theodore Antoniou (1935–2018), Greek composer and conductor Theodore Basil Anuka, Ghanaian politician Theodore Aplin (c. 1927–1991), Australian botanist T. Frank Appleby (1864–1924), American Republican Party politician Theodore Apsevdis, 13th-century Greek painter Theodore Aranda (1934–2022), Belizean politician Theodore Argles, American journalist Theodore Atkinson (1697–1779), American politician, lawyer and militia officer Theodore Aylward Sr., English organist Theodore Bachenheimer (1923–1944), United States Army officer Theodore F. Bagge (1820–1886), American politician Theodore Baker (1851–1934), American musicologist Theodore Anderson Baldwin (1839–1925), United States Army general Theodore Cotillo Barbarossa (1906–1992), American sculptor Theodore X. Barber (1927–2005), American hypnosis expert Theodore H. Barrett (1834–1900), American Brevet Brigadier General Theodore Ward Barrow, American art historian and skateboarder S. Theodore Baskaran, Indian film historian Theodore Baskin (born 1950), American musician Theodore Bathurst, English poet and translator Theodore Bauer, West German bobsledder Theodore J. Bauer (1909–2005), American physician Theodore Beauchaine, American psychologist Theodore Beck (1859–1899), British academic Theodore Beggs (1859–1940), Australian politician Theodore Arlington Bell (1872–1922), American politician Theodore Bendix (1862–1935), American composer and musical director Theodore Hutson Benedict (1821–1885), American politician Theodore Benfey, American politician Theodore Bent (1852–1897), British archaeologist and explorer in the Levant, Africa, and Southern Arabia Theodore Berlin (1938–1987), American politician Theodore H. Berlin (1917–1962), American theoretical physicist Theodore Menline Bernstein (1904–1979), American newspaper editor Theodore Besterman (1904–1976), Polish-born British researcher, bibliographer, biographer and translator Theodore Bestor (1951–2021), American anthropologist Theodore Beza (1519–1605), French Protestant theologian and scholar Theodore Bibb (1918–2010), American jazz drummer Theodore Bibliander (1509–1564), Swiss Orientalist, publisher and linguist Theodore Bikel (1924–2015), Austrian-American actor, folksinger, composer and unionist Theodore G. Bilbo (1877–1947), American politician Theodore A. Bingham (1858–1934), American police commissioner Theodore Birkbeck, British Army general Theodore Birkett (1918–?), Barbadian cricketer Theodore H. Blau (1928–2003), American psychologist Theodore Bloomfield (1923–1998), American conductor Theodore Davis Boal (1867–1938), American architect and army officer Theodore Boborol (born 1979), Filipino film and television director Theodore Bodenwein, German-American newspaper publisher and politician Theodore Bodra (1917–?), Indian politician Theodore Boronovskis (born 1943), Australian Olympic judoka Theodore Boyett (1912–1987), American football coach Theodore Brameld (1904–1987), American philosopher Theodore Brandley (1851–1928), Swiss Mormon missionary Theodore M. Brantley (1851–1922), American judge Theodore DuBose Bratton (1862–1944), American bishop Theodore W. Brazeau (1873–1965), American politician Theodore Brenson (1893–1959), American artist Theodore Brentano (1854–1940), American judge Theodore W. Brevard Jr. (1835–1882), American politician and Confederate Army officer Teddy Bridgewater (born 1992), American football player Theodore J. van den Broek (1783–1851), Dutch missionary Theodore F. Brophy (1923–2020), American businessman and telecommunications professional Theodore Bruback (1851–1904), American businessman Theodore Bruce (1847–1911), Australian politician Theodore Brune, German-American architect Theodore Alois Buckley (1825–1856), English classicist and translator Theodore Bugas (1924–2022), American politician Theodore Holmes Bullock (1915–2005), American neuroscientist Theodore Bundy (1946–1989), prolific American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile Theodore Weld Burdick (1836–1898), American politician Theodore Burr (1771–1822), American inventor and civil engineer Theodore Arthur Burrows (1857–1929), Canadian politician Theodore Earl Butler (1861–1936), American painter Theodore V. Buttrey Jr. (1929–2018), American educator, classicist and numismatist Theodore Cable, Indianapolis politician Theodore L. Cairns (1914–1994), American chemist Theodore Cantor (1809–1860), Danish physician, zoologist and botanist Theodore Carpenter (1898–1975), American jazz musician and bandleader Theodore Carr (1866–1931), British politician Theodore Carstens (1879–1955), American fencer Theodore Case (1888–1944), American chemist and inventor Theodore S. Case (1832–1900), American businessman, military officer, professor and physician Theodore E. Chandler (1894–1945), United States Navy admiral Theodore Chanler (1902–1961), American composer Theodore S. Chapman (1849–1914), American politician, lawyer and businessman Theodore William Chaundy (1889–1966), English mathematician