How to say it
THE · o
ˈθi.oʊ
Masculine
Theo
Gift of God, divine
What it means
Greek theos ('god') as a name root. Started as a short for Theodore ('gift of God') or Theobald ('bold people'); now a standalone name in its own right.
Theo started as a short form for any Greek name starting with theos ('god'): Theodore, Theobald, Theophilus. Vincent van Gogh's younger brother Theo (born Theodorus) is the most famous historical example; the brothers' correspondence is one of the great records of 19th-century art. As a standalone given name Theo is mostly a 21st-century phenomenon, surging from the 2010s onward as parents prefer the short form to the formal Theodore. It entered the US top 200 in 2021. Two syllables, no further nickname.
How to spell Theo
The standard spelling is Theo. Common variants include Théo, but Theo is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #78 in 2023, currently #82 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Theo Huxtable from The Cosby Show was the dominant American Theo for a generation; Vincent van Gogh's brother Theo (the art dealer) is the older anchor.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Theo van Gogh Art dealer and younger brother of Vincent; their correspondence is one of the great records of 19th-century art
- Theo Huxtable Malcolm-Jamal Warner's character on The Cosby Show, 1984-1992
Spelling variants
- Théo
Names with the same feeling
See Theo from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Theo mean?
- Greek theos ('god') as a name root. Started as a short for Theodore ('gift of God') or Theobald ('bold people'); now a standalone name in its own right.
- What does Theo mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Theo means "Gift of God, divine." Theo started as a short form for any Greek name starting with theos ('god'): Theodore, Theobald, Theophilus. Vincent van Gogh's younger brother Theo (born Theodorus) is the most famous historical example; the brothers' correspondence is one of the great records of 19th-century art. As a standalone given name Theo is mostly a 21st-century phenomenon, surging from the 2010s onward as parents prefer the short form to the formal Theodore. It entered the US top 200 in 2021. Two syllables, no further nickname.
- Is Theo short for Theodore?
- Yes. Theo is a short form of Theodore, and it carries the same meaning, "Gift of God, divine." These days many parents use Theo as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Theo?
- Theo is pronounced ˈθi.oʊ. Say it as THE-o, with the stress on the "the" syllable.
- How do you spell Theo?
- The standard spelling is Theo. Common spelling variants include Théo.
- Is Theo a boy or girl name?
- Theo is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Theo?
- Theo ranked #82 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.