embrisa.
embrisa.
Theme
Masculine

Theodore

ˈθi.ə.dɔr

Gift of God

Greek

How to say it

THEE · uh · dor

ˈθi.ə.dɔr

What it means

From the Greek Theodōros. The roots are theos (God) and dōron (gift). Same meaning as Matthew (Hebrew) and Dorothy (Greek, with the elements reversed).

Several Byzantine emperors and saints carried the name forward through the medieval Eastern Christian world. American president Theodore Roosevelt (1858 to 1919) gave the name a particularly American flavor. The teddy bear was named after him, after a famous incident in which he refused to shoot a bear cub on a hunting trip. The modern revival from the 2010s lifted Theodore into the US top twenty for boys. Russian Fyodor and Greek Theodoros are forms of the same name. Theodore has one of the better nickname trees: Teddy, Theo, and Ted all live as full daily-life names.

How to spell Theodore

The standard spelling is Theodore. Common variants include Theodor, Theodoros, Fyodor, Théodore, but Theodore is the most widely used form.

Popularity over time

#10 #100 #1 #31418802025

peaked at #4 in 2024, currently #4 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

  • Nickname

    Teddy and Theo both circulate widely. Teddy reads warmer and more child-coded; Theo grows up easier. Worth choosing intentionally.

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.

  • Theodore Roosevelt 26th US president, the original Teddy
  • Theodor Geisel Dr. Seuss, the author's given name
  • Theodore (Chipmunks) The youngest of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore

Spelling variants

  • Theodor
  • Theodoros
  • Fyodor
  • Théodore

Common questions

What does the name Theodore mean?
From the Greek Theodōros. The roots are theos (God) and dōron (gift). Same meaning as Matthew (Hebrew) and Dorothy (Greek, with the elements reversed).
What does Theodore mean in Greek?
In Greek, Theodore means "Gift of God." Several Byzantine emperors and saints carried the name forward through the medieval Eastern Christian world. American president Theodore Roosevelt (1858 to 1919) gave the name a particularly American flavor. The teddy bear was named after him, after a famous incident in which he refused to shoot a bear cub on a hunting trip. The modern revival from the 2010s lifted Theodore into the US top twenty for boys. Russian Fyodor and Greek Theodoros are forms of the same name. Theodore has one of the better nickname trees: Teddy, Theo, and Ted all live as full daily-life names.
How do you pronounce Theodore?
Theodore is pronounced ˈθi.ə.dɔr. Say it as THEE-uh-dor, with the stress on the "thee" syllable.
How do you spell Theodore?
The standard spelling is Theodore. Common spelling variants include Theodor, Theodoros, Fyodor, Théodore.
Is Theodore a boy or girl name?
Theodore is traditionally a masculine name.
How popular is the name Theodore?
Theodore ranked #4 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.