Fun Facts About the Name Theophilus
- More than 2 thousand babies named Theophilus: U.S. records list 2,449 babies given the name Theophilus from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Theophilus Mean?
Theophilus is the English form of the Greek name Θεόφιλος (Theophilos), meaning 'loved by God' or 'dear to God.' The Greek name combines θεός (theos), 'god,' with φίλος (philos), which as an adjective means 'beloved' or 'dear' and as a noun means 'friend.' In this compound the second element is normally read in a passive sense - one who is loved by God - and that is the meaning given in standard name references. The common alternative 'friend of God' comes from the noun sense of philos; it is a traditional interpretation of the same components, not a separate etymology. The Latin form Theophilus comes from the Greek, and English takes the name from Latin.
Theophilus Name History & Origins
The name is Greek and follows a common pattern of Greek compound personal names. Its best-known early appearance is in the New Testament: the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are both addressed to a Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1). Some readers have taken the name there as a symbolic term for a Christian 'lover of God,' while others treat it as the name of a real patron or dedicatee; the text itself presents him as an individual. Early Christian leaders named Theophilus include Theophilus of Antioch, a second-century bishop and Christian writer, and Theophilus of Alexandria, patriarch from 385 to 412. The name was also borne by the Byzantine emperor Theophilus (reigned 829 - 842).
In medieval western Europe, a popular legend told of Theophilus the Penitent, a cleric who was said to have made a pact with the devil and then been saved through the Virgin Mary. The story appeared in saints' lives and miracle plays and helped keep the name in circulation. From Greek it passed into Latin as Theophilus and then into modern European languages. In the English-speaking world, the name was used in the 17th century by figures such as Theophilus Eaton, a Puritan merchant and co-founder of the New Haven Colony. The short form Theo is also used independently.
How Popular is the Name Theophilus?
Theophilus 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 #1,048 in 1901.
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 | #2,417 | 57 | 0.0033% |
| 2024 | #2,225 | 65 | 0.0038% |
| 2023 | #2,270 | 63 | 0.0037% |
| 2022 | #2,165 | 68 | 0.0039% |
| 2021 | #2,855 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 2020 | #2,837 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 2019 | #2,937 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2018 | #2,615 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2017 | #3,000 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 2016 | #2,619 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 2015 | #3,358 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2014 | #2,977 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 2013 | #2,990 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2012 | #3,167 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 2011 | #5,177 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #5,709 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #5,528 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #5,048 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #3,991 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2006 | #5,276 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #3,932 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2004 | #4,984 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #3,434 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #4,171 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2001 | #4,869 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #3,902 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1999 | #3,361 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1998 | #3,290 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1997 | #3,252 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1996 | #4,170 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1995 | #5,879 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #4,512 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #4,669 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #3,326 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #4,734 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #3,589 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #4,007 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #2,589 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1987 | #3,491 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #3,632 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #3,580 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1984 | #3,671 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #3,397 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #2,816 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #2,328 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1980 | #2,946 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1979 | #2,559 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1978 | #2,915 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #1,703 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1976 | #3,460 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1975 | #2,124 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1974 | #2,662 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1973 | #2,596 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #2,522 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #2,046 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1970 | #3,054 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #2,538 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #2,303 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #1,849 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1966 | #1,959 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1965 | #1,912 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1964 | #2,650 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #2,402 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #2,353 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #2,531 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1960 | #2,110 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #2,099 | 16 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #2,017 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #1,545 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | #1,941 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #1,606 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #1,464 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1953 | #1,761 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1952 | #1,696 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1951 | #1,675 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1950 | #1,610 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1949 | #1,497 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1948 | #1,484 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1947 | #1,783 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #1,752 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1945 | #2,003 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1944 | #1,977 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #2,716 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #2,256 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #3,109 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1940 | #2,464 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #2,596 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1938 | #1,736 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1937 | #2,467 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1936 | #2,288 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1935 | #2,921 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1934 | #1,923 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #1,824 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1932 | #2,307 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #1,686 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1930 | #1,812 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1929 | #1,921 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1928 | #2,150 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #1,865 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1926 | #2,553 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1925 | #2,001 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1924 | #1,379 | 30 | 0.0026% |
| 1923 | #2,918 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1922 | #1,690 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1921 | #1,446 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1920 | #1,739 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1919 | #1,528 | 24 | 0.0024% |
| 1918 | #1,531 | 24 | 0.0024% |
| 1917 | #1,688 | 20 | 0.0022% |
| 1916 | #2,036 | 15 | 0.0017% |
| 1915 | #1,597 | 20 | 0.0024% |
| 1914 | #1,677 | 15 | 0.0023% |
| 1913 | #1,430 | 15 | 0.0029% |
| 1912 | #2,247 | 7 | 0.0016% |
| 1911 | #1,285 | 9 | 0.0040% |
| 1910 | #1,410 | 7 | 0.0036% |
| 1909 | #1,264 | 7 | 0.0043% |
| 1907 | #1,330 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1904 | #1,189 | 6 | 0.0047% |
| 1901 | #1,048 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1888 | #1,169 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1885 | #1,087 | 5 | 0.0046% |
| 1884 | #1,109 | 5 | 0.0044% |
| 1882 | #1,080 | 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 Theophilus 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.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Theophilus's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Theophilus's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.