Theodore is a boy name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Theodore means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Theodore across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Theodore has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Theodore is a boy name of Greek origin meaning “gift of God”. borne by several saints and popes.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 318,175 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 29,960 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 996 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 396 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 1,003 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 1,462 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Theodore per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 2025 (13,362/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2022 (2,835/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2025 (115/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2024 (108/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2021 (55/yr).
Theodore has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 2025, when it ranked #6 nationally (given to 16,217 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 2020s.
Theodora · Theadore · Thedore · Theadora · Theodor · Thedora · Theodoro · Theador
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →