Theodor
About Theodor
Theodor is a classic masculine name of Greek origin meaning "gift of God," derived from the elements "theos" (God) and "doron" (gift). This spelling variant is particularly popular in Germanic and Scandinavian countries, including Germany, Austria, Norway, and Sweden. While the Theodore spelling is more common in English-speaking regions, Theodor has gained appreciation for its sophisticated European flair. The name has been borne by numerous notable figures throughout history, including composer Theodor Adorno, writer Theodor Herzl, and children's author Theodor Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss). Theodor offers parents a timeless yet distinguished name option with appealing nickname possibilities including Theo, Ted, and Teddy.
Pronounced THEE-uh-dor.
As of October 2026, Theodor ranked #2004 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1055 in 1887.
AI-written. Reviewed by Sophie Kihm
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #2,342 | 56 | 29.2 |
| 2015 | #2,408 | 54 | 28.2 |
| 2016 | #2,203 | 62 | 32.7 |
| 2017 | #2,413 | 54 | 29.2 |
| 2018 | #2,163 | 65 | 35.8 |
| 2019 | #1,813 | 85 | 47.4 |
| 2020 | #1,891 | 79 | 45.8 |
| 2021 | #2,094 | 70 | 40 |
| 2022 | #1,836 | 88 | 50.4 |
| 2023 | #1,863 | 86 | 50.3 |
| 2024 | #2,109 | 71 | 41.2 |
| 2025 | #2,004 | 76 | 44.5 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Theodor.
- Emett
- Isak
- Mattia
- Vincenzio
- Raffaele
- Olan
- Ammon
- Filip
- Ellwood
- Maysa
- Ludvig
- Hendrik
- Iwan
- Kay
- Daan
- Thurman
- Palmerston
- Barclay
- Märta
- Maksim
Theodor on lists
Famous Theodors
- Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
American author
- Theodor Herzl
born Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl, father of modern Zionism, playwright, journalist, and political activist
- Theodor Mommsen
winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
- Theodor Adorno
German philosopher
- Theodor Fontane
German writer
- Theodor Heuss
German politician and publicist
- Theodor Innitzer
Austrian Catholic cardinal
- Emil Theodor Kocher
Swiss medical researcher, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Theodor Svedberg
Swedish chemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate
- Theodor Zwinger
Swiss scholar