Theodore

Theodore is a masculine given name of Greek origin. It derives from Theodoros, formed from the elements theos meaning “god” and doron meaning “gift,” so the name is commonly interpreted as “gift of God.” In English, Theodore has produced common nicknames such as Theo, Ted, or Teddy, and the feminine form is Theodora.

Historically, Theodore has appeared in Christian and Byzantine contexts, with several saints bearing the name contributing to its prestige. Its use spread in the English-speaking world in the 19th and early 20th centuries and remains in regular use in many countries today.

Notable people with the given name Theodore include Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States; Theodore Dreiser, American novelist; Theodore Sturgeon, American science-fiction writer; Theodore von Karman, Hungarian-American engineer; Theodore Roethke, American poet; and Theodore Bikel, Austrian-born actor. Other prominent figures include Theodore M. Hesburgh, American priest and educator.

In fiction and popular culture, Theodore appears as a character name in various works, such as Theodore “Theo” Decker, the protagonist of Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch, and Theodore “Ted” Lasso, the coaching protagonist of the television series Ted Lasso.

Variants of the name exist in other languages and cultures—Theodor or Teodor in German and Slavic languages; Teodoro in Italian and Spanish; Fyodor or Fedor in Russian; all sharing the same Greek-root meaning. The English form Theodore remains a classic, continuing to appear in literature, history, and contemporary naming.