Fun Facts About the Name Theodor
- More than 2 thousand babies named Theodor: U.S. records list 2,216 babies given the name Theodor from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Theodor Mean?
Theodor means "gift of God" and goes back to ancient Greek. It represents the Greek name Theodoros (Θεόδωρος), built from theos (θεός), "god," and doron (δῶρον), "gift." The literal sense is a gift given by a god, and Greek-speaking Christians read it as a gift from the one God - the customary interpretation "God-given."
This is the form of the name used in German and Scandinavian, and in Dutch as Theodoor. English speakers more often use Theodore, which reached English through French; both forms descend from the same Greek original, as do Slavic forms such as Russian Fyodor. The related Greek name Theodosios uses the same two elements in the opposite order.
Theodor Name History & Origins
Theodoros was an ordinary name in the Greek-speaking world. An early recorded bearer was Theodoros of Samos, an architect and bronze-caster linked to the temple of Hera on Samos in the sixth century BC. The name later spread through the Roman world in its Latin form Theodorus.
Several early Christian saints carried it, and their veneration carried the name into calendars and church use across Europe. Among them are Theodore of Amasea, a soldier said to have been martyred around 306; Theodore of Tarsus, archbishop of Canterbury from 668 to 690; and Theodore the Studite, the ninth-century abbot of the Stoudios monastery in Constantinople.
From Latin and Greek, the name passed into the languages of medieval and early modern Europe. It became Theodor in German and the Scandinavian languages, Teodor in Polish and Czech, Todor in Bulgarian, and Fyodor in Russian, where the initial th sound was lost. English adopted Theodore from French, while Theodor remains the usual spelling in German-speaking and Nordic countries. Bearers of the German and Austrian forms include the historian Theodor Mommsen and Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism.
How Popular is the Name Theodor?
Theodor has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #1,055 in 1887.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,004 | 76 | 0.0044% |
| 2024 | #2,109 | 71 | 0.0041% |
| 2023 | #1,863 | 86 | 0.0050% |
| 2022 | #1,836 | 88 | 0.0050% |
| 2021 | #2,094 | 70 | 0.0040% |
| 2020 | #1,891 | 79 | 0.0046% |
| 2019 | #1,813 | 85 | 0.0047% |
| 2018 | #2,163 | 65 | 0.0036% |
| 2017 | #2,413 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 2016 | #2,203 | 62 | 0.0033% |
| 2015 | #2,408 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 2014 | #2,342 | 56 | 0.0029% |
| 2013 | #2,664 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 2012 | #4,842 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2011 | #4,095 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2010 | #3,982 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2009 | #4,728 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2008 | #4,877 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #4,623 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 2006 | #5,498 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #4,178 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2004 | #4,772 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #6,212 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #3,660 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #4,868 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #4,188 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #4,515 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #3,832 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #9,151 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #5,496 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #4,031 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1994 | #5,418 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #5,323 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #4,546 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #4,733 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #4,643 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #3,601 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #4,424 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #3,490 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #5,287 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #4,024 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #4,520 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #5,432 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #3,833 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #3,821 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #3,824 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #4,135 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #3,079 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #3,812 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #4,458 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #3,928 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #3,128 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #2,875 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #2,843 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #2,025 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #3,210 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #2,612 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #2,600 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #2,649 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #2,039 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #3,282 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #2,230 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1960 | #2,200 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #2,804 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #2,086 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #2,365 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #1,759 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,298 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #2,429 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #2,177 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #2,146 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #2,047 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #2,427 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1949 | #2,997 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #2,602 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #2,243 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #1,751 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1945 | #3,732 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #1,976 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #2,174 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #2,375 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #2,476 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1940 | #2,308 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #2,281 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1938 | #2,172 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1937 | #2,466 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1936 | #2,169 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #2,514 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #2,251 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1933 | #2,200 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1932 | #1,645 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1931 | #3,075 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #2,282 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1929 | #2,310 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #2,375 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1927 | #1,864 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1926 | #1,904 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1925 | #2,078 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1924 | #2,455 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1923 | #3,151 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1922 | #2,620 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1921 | #2,255 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1920 | #2,745 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1919 | #2,499 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1918 | #1,899 | 18 | 0.0018% |
| 1917 | #1,524 | 23 | 0.0025% |
| 1916 | #2,035 | 15 | 0.0017% |
| 1915 | #1,959 | 15 | 0.0018% |
| 1914 | #1,676 | 15 | 0.0023% |
| 1913 | #1,668 | 12 | 0.0023% |
| 1892 | #1,057 | 6 | 0.0049% |
| 1887 | #1,055 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1884 | #1,108 | 5 | 0.0044% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Theodor Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You like to control everyone within your influence, to shape things to your own liking. If positive, you develop high spirituality, as you have a God's protection. You are sensitive, affectionate, imaginative and cooperative, spiritually aware and prone to self-sacrifice. You can keep secrets and are a good diplomat. You may have healing and psychic powers. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Theodor's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Theodor's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.