Fun Facts About the Name Theophilia
- 11 babies named Theophilia: U.S. records list 11 babies given the name Theophilia from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Theophilia Mean?
Theophilia is a feminine name of Greek origin meaning "love of God." It is built from two Greek elements: theos, "god," and philia, "love, friendship, affection," the noun connected with philos, "loving, dear." The -ia ending is the ordinary Greek suffix for an abstract noun, as in philosophia, "love of wisdom."
The name belongs with the masculine Theophilus (Greek Theophilos) and the feminine Theophila, which use the same two elements. Because philos can mean either "loving" or "beloved," names of this family are glossed both as "loving God" and as "beloved of God," and the Greek compound by itself does not settle which sense was intended. The -ia form points toward the abstract meaning, "love of God," rather than toward a description of the person who bears it.
Theophilia Name History & Origins
The name comes from a Greek pattern of compounds made with theos and philos. The masculine Theophilos was used in the Greek-speaking eastern Mediterranean and appears in the New Testament: the Gospel of Luke is addressed to "most excellent Theophilus," and the Acts of the Apostles opens with the same address. Some readers have treated that Theophilus as a symbolic stand-in for any Christian rather than a real individual, but the name itself was an ordinary one in the Greek world. Christian tradition also records bishops and martyrs named Theophilus, which helped the masculine form survive in Greek and, through Latin Theophilus, in western Europe.
As the name passed into Latin and then into the European vernaculars, it took forms such as French Théophile, German Theophil, and Italian and Spanish Teofilo. Feminine forms built from the same elements appear alongside these, chiefly Theophila and the -ia spelling Theophilia; they are far less common than the masculine name and are chiefly familiar from Christian naming, where they echo both the Gospel addressee and the general sense "lover of God."
Because the compound was understood as "lover of God," it was sometimes treated as the Greek counterpart of the Latin name Amadeus, from ama, "love," and Deus, "God." That pairing is a translation of meaning, not a shared origin: the two names are not related linguistically.
How Popular is the Name Theophilia?
Theophilia 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 2015. Its best rank was #16,256 in 2015.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | #16,256 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #18,984 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with T
How the Name Theophilia 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.
✦ Theophilia's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Theophilia's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.