Origin, Meaning, And History Of Theo
Theo has both Greek and German origins. In Greek, Theo means God. In German, the name is derived from “theud,” which means “folk” or “people.” It is also used as nickname for the Greek Theodore and Theobald in German.
Theodore is one of the most popular names of Greek origin and is still in use. The name means “gift of god” and was popular in the middle ages as a number of saints bore that name. The meaning of the name also appealed to people of the Christian world. Other pet names for Theodore besides Theo include Ted, Teddy, and Teddie.
When it comes to the German language, Theo is considered a short form of Theobald, where “bald” means bold. Today the name is not exclusive to Germany and is used in other countries as well. It is thought to have been brought to England by the Normans.
Theo, itself a short form, does not have a shorter version. Although, names such as Ted, Teo, or Téo ca be used as a nickname for Theo. Teo is used in Croatian, Italian, Slovene, and Spanish, while the accented version Téo is used in Portuguese.
In fiction, the name appears in PD James’ dystopian novel “The Children of Men,” where the main character is Theo Faron. Pulitzer Prize-winning novel ‘The Goldfinch’ was a coming-of-age tale of 13-year-old Theodore “Theo” Decker, who survives a terrorist bombing in which his mother is killed. The ‘Fault in our Stars’ actor Ansel Elgort played the adult Theo in the film adaptation of the novel released in 2019.
Kojak, the American TV series of the 70s, revolved around the lollipop-toting police officer Lieutenant Theodopolis “Theo” Kojak. The character Theo Kojak was ranked 18 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time list in 1999.
Theo
Boy
Christianity, Greek
Cyprus, Welsh
3
One
1 word, 4 letters, 2 vowels, 2 consonants
Short and easy to pronounce
How To Pronounce Theo?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Theo in English.
Famous People With The Name Theo
- Theo GeiselAmerican author better known as Dr. Seuss
- Theo HeemskerkFormer Dutch Prime Minister
- Theo JamesEnglish actor, best known for portraying Tobias “Four” Eaton in The Divergent series
- Theo RatliffAmerican basketball player who played 16 seasons in the NBA
- Theo WaigelGerman politician, known as ‘The Father of the Euro’
Theo On The Popularity Chart
With hardly any growth in popularity till the early 2000s, Theo took off on the popularity chart from 2013 onwards. The graphic representation below will give you more information.
Popularity Over Time
In 1980, only 36 babies per million were named Theo and the numbers did not change much till 2000 when the name crossed the 100 mark. Growth was slow for another decade when things started taking off, and from 2013 there was a steep upward curve in popularity. By 2021 the number had risen to 2688 from just 363 in 2013.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Theo’s ranking has been falling since 1980 when it was ranked 13815. It improved somewhat to 13566 in 1985, but started slipping again, hitting a low of 21584 in 2007. The name ranked 17686 in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Theo
Theo is short and sweet. If you like the sound of it but want a different meaning, take a look at some of the options below.
Popular Sibling Names For Theo
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Theo, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Theo
Find matching brother names for Theo and create a wonderful team of siblings.
ThaabitThaaqib Thabit Thabiti Thabo Thacher Thacker Thackere Thad Thaddaus Girl Sibling Names For Theo
Looking for some suitable sister names for Theo? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
ThabsheeraThadine Thahiya Thaia Thaiera Thaina Thais Thaisa Thalatha Thaleia Other Popular Names Beginning With T
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter T to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Theo
Who does not want a name that refers to God ? Here are some names with the same meaning as Theo.
Infographic: Know The Name Theo‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name Theo In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
theo
In Sign Language
theo
In Braille Alphabet
theo
In Morse Code
theo
Name Numerology For Theo
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Theo?
The name Theo means ‘people’ or ‘bold.’
2. What is the origin of the name Theo?
Theo has Greek and German origins.
3. What are the best combinations of names with Theo?
Theo has Greek and Germanic roots, so you may consider names with the same origins. Some popular options include Alekos, a Greek variant of the name Alexander meaning ‘defender of people,’ and Elias, a Greek version of the Hebrew name ‘Elijah,’ meaning ‘the Lord is my God.’ Furthermore, names of German origin, such as Egon, meaning ‘blade,’ and Ansgar, meaning ‘God spear,’ can also make intriguing combinations with Theo.
4. What language is Theo derived from?
Theo is rooted in Greek and German languages. However, the name is also popular in the form of its variants in various languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, and English.
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