Behind the Name
the etymology and history of first names
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View Name: Theodore


THEODORE
GENDER: Masculine
USAGE: English
PRONOUNCED: THEE-ə-dawr   [key]
Meaning & History
From the Greek name Θεοδωρος (Theodoros), which meant "gift of god" from Greek θεος (theos) "god" and δωρον (doron) "gift". This was the name of several saints, including Theodore of Amasea, a 4th-century Greek soldier; Theodore of Tarsus, a 7th-century archbishop of Canterbury; and Theodore the Studite, a 9th-century Byzantine monk. It was also borne by two popes.

This was a common name in classical Greece, and, due to both the saints who carried it and the favourable meaning, it came into general use in the Christian world, being especially popular among Eastern Christians. It was however rare in Britain before the 19th century. Famous bearers include three tsars of Russia (in the Russian form Fyodor) and American president Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919).

Related Names
DIMINUTIVES: Ted, Teddy, Theo
OTHER LANGUAGES: Theodoros, Theodorus (Ancient Greek), Teodor, Todor (Bulgarian), Teodor, Teo (Croatian), Teodor, Theodor (Czech), Theodoor, Theodorus, Theo (Dutch), Tewodros (Eastern African), Théodore, Theirn, Théo (French), Theodor (German), Theodoros (Greek), Teodor, Tivadar, Tódor (Hungarian), Teodoro, Teo (Italian), Teodors (Latvian), Teodor, Todor, Toše, Toshe (Macedonian), Teodor (Polish), Teodoro, Téo (Portuguese), Teodor, Tudor, Dorin, Theodor (Romanian), Feodor, Fyodor, Fedor, Fedya (Russian), Teodor, Theodor (Scandinavian), Teodor, Todor (Serbian), Teodor (Slovak), Teodor (Slovene), Teodoro, Teo (Spanish), Fedir (Ukrainian)
Popularity
United States  ranked #231 
France  ranked #329 
SEE ALSO
THÉODORE



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