Theodor

Theodor - A very unique male name

Theodor appeared on the charts for the first time in 1961 on position #1581. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Theodor and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Theodor? 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 Theodor. The baby boy name Theodor was given to 38 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1920 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 38,586 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Theodor peaked in popularity 65 years ago in 1961 on position 1581.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Theodor, 1-5?

Theodor is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Theodor is currently topping the baby name charts in Massachusetts at position #887 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #2,915.

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 Theodor is where you live.

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Theodor origin and meaning

German and Scandinavian form of Theodore (Greek)

The German/Scandinavian form of Theodore, from Greek theos, 'god', and doron, 'gift' — 'gift of God'

Theodor is Theodore without the final e, the standard form in German and Scandinavian naming. US use is sporadic since 1961 and has risen since 2020 as Theodore itself has boomed — parents reaching for the sleeker European spelling.

Attested etymology

Theodor is a 7 letter name with 3 syllables.

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

Similar to Theodor

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

Terry / Theodore / Troy / Trey / Tyree / Tre / Tory / Tru / Torrey / Teodoro /

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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 Theodor

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 Theodor 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 Theodor?

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

THEE-oh-dor · /ˈθiədɔr/
German speakers say TAY-oh-dor; American families usually follow Theodore's THEE-oh-dor.

Around the world

• Theodor (German) — Used as-is in German.
• Theodoros (Greek) — The original Greek form.
• Théodore (French) — The French form.

Spellings and nicknames

• Theodore — The English form.
• Teodor — A streamlined international spelling.

Nicknames: TheoTeddy

Famous bearers

• Theodor Herzl — Austro-Hungarian journalist who founded modern political Zionism (1860–1904) Historical

Style

InternationalClassic

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Theodor for Theodore's meaning and weight in its cleaner European spelling. It is rising alongside Theodore's revival.

Worth knowing

• Most Americans will add the missing e and write Theodore.