Theodore (given name)
Theodore is a masculine given name. It comes from the Ancient Greek name Θεόδωρος (Theódoros), meaning "gift of God(s)" (from the Ancient Greek words θεός, (theós) "God/Gods" and δῶρον (dṓron) "gift". The name was borne by several figures in ancient Greece, such as Theodorus of Samos and Theodorus of Byzantium, but gained popularity due to the rise of Christendom.
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of United States | |
| Pronunciation | English: /ˈθiːədɔːr/ |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Name day | 9 November Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden Alternative dates 7 March: Bulgaria 12 May: Greece 23 October: Czech Republic |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Greek |
| Meaning | "gift of the God(s)" |
| Other names | |
| Nickname(s) | Ted, Teddy, Theo |
| Related names | Teodoro, Theodora, Theodorus, Dorothy |
In any form, it means "God(s)-given", or "gift of God/Gods", as do the given names Jonathan, Nathaniel, Matthew, Ataullah, Devadatta, Dosetai, Bogdan, and Adeodatus.
The name has risen in popularity across the Anglosphere in recent years. Theodore was among the five most popular names for White newborn boys in the American state of Virginia in 2022. It was among the ten most popular names for newborn boys nationally in the United States in 2021. The feminine form of Theodore is Theodora. The names Dorothy and Godiva also mean "gift of God(s)". In German, Theodore is the feminine form and the masculine form is Theodor.
Although similar to, and probably influenced by it, the Germanic name Theodoric (and variants Theodoricus, Dietrich, Thierry, and others) has a separate origin.