Theodore (given name)

Theodore
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of United States
PronunciationEnglish: /ˈθədɔːr/
GenderMale
Name day9 November
Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden

Alternative dates
7 March: Bulgaria
12 May: Greece
23 October: Czech Republic
Origin
Word/nameGreek
Meaning"gift of the God(s)"
Other names
Nickname(s)Ted, Teddy, Theo
Related namesTeodoro, Theodora, Theodorus, Dorothy

Theodore is a masculine given name. It comes from the Ancient Greek name Θεόδωρος (Theódoros), meaning "gift of God(s)" (from the Ancient Greek words θεός, (theós) "God/Gods" and δῶρον (dṓron) "gift".[1] The name was borne by several figures in ancient Greece, such as Theodorus of Samos and Theodorus of Byzantium, but gained popularity due to the rise of Christendom.

In any form, it means "God(s)-given", or "gift of God/Gods", as do the given names Jonathan, Nathaniel, Matthew, hibatullah, Devadatta, Dosetai, Bogdan, and Adeodatus.[citation needed]

The name has risen in popularity across the Anglosphere in recent years. Theodore was among the five most popular names for White newborn boys in the American state of Virginia in 2022. [2] It was among the ten most popular names for newborn boys nationally in the United States in 2021.[3] It was the fifth most popular name for boys in Canada in 2022.[4] The feminine form of Theodore is Theodora. The names Dorothy and Godiva also mean "gift of God(s)". In German, Theodore is the feminine form and the masculine form is Theodor.

Although similar to, and probably influenced by it, the Germanic name Theodoric (and variants Theodoricus, Dietrich, Thierry, and others) has a separate origin. It's also similar to Doris, another Greek origin given name.

Variants

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Language Variant(s) Notes
Albanian Teodor, Theodhor, Dhori
Amharic Tewodros (ቴዎድሮስ)
Arabic Tawadros (تواضروس)
hibatullah Similar in translation to the Greek name
Aramaic Yahballaha (ܝܗܒܐܠܗܐ‎)
Armenian Thoros (Թորոս)
Astvacatur (Աստուածատուր), Asatur (Ասատուր) Translation of Greek original
Belarusian Fiodar (Фёдар), Todar (Тодар), Teador (Тэадор)
Bahdan (Багдан) Translation of Greek original
Bulgarian Todor (Тодор), Teodor (Теодор)
Božidar (Божидар), Bogdan (Богдан) Translation of Greek original
Catalan Teodor
Czech Teodor, Theodor
Bohdan Translation of Greek original
Danish Teodor, Theodor
Dutch Theodoor, Theodorus
English Theodore
Esperanto Teodoro
Estonian Theodor, Teodor, Tuudor, Tuudur
Ethiopian and Eritrean Tedros (ቴድሮስ), Tewodros (ቴዎድሮስ)
Finnish Teuvo, Teodor
French Théodore
Dieudonné Translation of Greek original
Georgian Teodor (თევდორე)
German Theodor
Greek Theódoros (Θεόδωρος), Thódoros (Θόδωρος), Thodorís (Θοδωρής), Theodorákis (Θεοδωράκης), Theodósios (Θεοδόσιος, Theodosius), Thódos (Θώδος), Thódis (Θώδης), Dóros (Δώρος), Dóris (Δώρης), Theodhori (Θεοδορι)
Hebrew Teodor (תאודור), Tiodor (תיאודור)
Hungarian Tivadar, Tódor
Indonesian Theodore
Irish Téodóir
Italian Teodoro, Donato, Donatello
Latin Theodorus
Latvian Teodors
Lithuanian Teodoras
Macedonia Теодор, Тео
Norwegian Teodor, Theodor
Polish Teodor, Bożydar, Bogdan
Portuguese Teodoro, Deodoro
Romanian Tudor (also a surname)
Teodor
Bogdan From Slavic languages
Russian Fyodor (Фёдор), Fedor (Федор), Feodor (Феодор)
Bogdan (Богдан). Translation of Greek original
Scottish Gaelic Feadair
Serbo-Croatian Teodor (Теодор), Todor (Тодор)
Božidar (Божидар), Bogdan (Богдан) Translation of Greek original
Sicilian Teodoru
Slovene Teodor
Spanish Teodoro
Diosdado
Swedish Teodor, Theodor
Turkish Tevazirus From Arabic form
Ukrainian Fedir (Федір), Fedor (Федор), Teodor (Теодор), Khvedir (Хведір), Fedio (Федьо)
Bohdan (Богдан), Bohodar (Богодар) Translation of Greek original
Welsh Tewdwr

Diminutives

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Hypocorisms, calling names, or nicknames derived from Theodore can be:

Language Form Nickname(s) Notes
Bulgarian Božidar Božo (Божо)
Teodor Teodor (Теодор): Teo (Тео), Teddy (Теди)
Todor Tosh(k)o (Тош(к)о)
Danish T(h)eodor Teo and Theo
Dutch Theodoor, Theodorus Dorus, Theo
English Theodore Ted, Teddy, Theo
Finnish Teodor, Teuvu Teo
French Dieudonné, Théodore Théo
German Theodor Theo
Georgian Teodor Tedo (თედო)
Greek ákis (άκης) Dhóros (Δώρος)
Italian Teodoro Teo
Norwegian T(h)eodor Teo and Theo
Russian Feodor, Fodor, Fyodor Fedya (Федя)
Swedish T(h)eodor Teo, Theo and Teddy

People named Theodore

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Ancient world

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Ordered chronologically

Modern world

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Ordered by last name, where available; otherwise chronologically

Fictional characters

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ MFnames.com – Origin and Meaning of Theodore
  2. ^ "Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records Announces Top Fifteen Baby Names of 2022, Other Interesting Virginia Birth Data". 23 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Top Baby Names of 2021".
  4. ^ "Table 17-10-0147-01 First names at birth by sex at birth, selected indicators (Number)". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 25 August 2024.