Theoden

Theoden - A very unique male name

Theoden appeared on the charts for the first time in 2017 on position #4262. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Theoden and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Theoden? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Theoden. The baby boy name Theoden was given to 44 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1809 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 33,325 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Theoden peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 1809.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Theoden, 1-5?

Theoden is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Theoden is currently topping the baby name charts in Oregon at position #595 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,184.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Theoden is where you live.

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Theoden origin and meaning

Literary coinage — Old English elements

Coined by J.R.R. Tolkien from Old English þeoden, 'king, lord of a people', for the King of Rohan

Théoden is the king of Rohan in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, his name taken directly from the Old English word for a ruler of a people. Real-world use began only in 2017, as Tolkien names moved from fandom into the nursery. The construction is documented in Tolkien's own use of Old English, so the name's source is not in doubt.

Attested etymology

Theoden is a 7 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Theoden, pop culture references for the name Theoden and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Theoden

We've found the following names that sound similar to Theoden, sorted by popularity.

Tony / Tommy / Tom / Tim / Tommie / Timmy / Tatum / Titan / Toney / Tayden /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Theoden

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Theoden a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Theoden?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

THAY-oh-den · /ˈθeɪoÊŠdÉ™n/
Tolkien readers also use a more Old-English THEH-oh-den; the film pronunciation is THAY-oh-den.

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Theodore — A classic Greek name that looks similar but is entirely unrelated

Famous bearers

• Théoden — King of Rohan in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (Fictional, 1954) Fictional

Style

LiteraryModern coinage

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Theoden for a kingly Tolkien name that sounds wearable outside fandom. It is at its highest use yet in 2025 but still a connoisseur's pick.

Worth knowing

• Instantly read as a Lord of the Rings reference by anyone who knows the books or films
• Often assumed to be a form of Theodore