Theodore
Greek Theodoros, “gift of God.”
Popularity, 1880–2025
Greek for 'gift of God' and Teddy Roosevelt's given name; the 2020s vintage revival lifted it back into the top 10.
Theodore appears in the national records from the very first year, 1880. It has ranked among the top 100 names for American boys in 80 different years between 1880 and 2025. It spent 5 years inside the top 10. Its biggest year was 2025, when 13,355 newborn boys received the name, ranking it No. 4 nationally. In 2025 it ranked No. 4 for boys. All told, 318,175 Americans have been given the name since 1880.
Related names
Other spellings on record: Theadore (4,005), Theodor (2,216), Thedore (1,136) (total births since 1880)
Other names that share a story: Dorothy, Theo, Roosevelt
Explore Theodore interactively →By the decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,176 | No. 69 |
| 1890s | 2,300 | No. 75 |
| 1900s | 6,490 | No. 30 |
| 1910s | 21,106 | No. 52 |
| 1920s | 31,287 | No. 62 |
| 1930s | 24,957 | No. 67 |
| 1940s | 26,249 | No. 90 |
| 1950s | 29,050 | No. 99 |
| 1960s | 21,288 | No. 142 |
| 1970s | 13,567 | No. 160 |
| 1980s | 11,958 | No. 200 |
| 1990s | 10,113 | No. 233 |
| 2000s | 10,556 | No. 276 |
| 2010s | 40,530 | No. 36 |
| 2020s | 65,579 | No. 4 |
Births and rank shown for boys, the sex more often given the name. The Social Security Administration omits name–year combinations with fewer than five births.
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Data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby-name file, 1880–2025.