Theo

Meaning: Gift of God
Origin: Greek — Short form of Theodore

Boy's name · #82 in the US (2025) · 2020s wave

Popularity over time

Theo is near its high-water mark: it reached #78 in 2023 and still ranked #82 in 2025. About 36,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Theo is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 51 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

Theo is especially popular in Germany, Scotland, and Denmark.

#3 in Germany (2025) · #6 in Scotland (2025) · #7 in Denmark (2025) · #7 in N. Ireland (2025) · #9 in Brazil (2025, through 23 Dec 2025, girls and boys combined) · #10 in New Zealand (2025) · #12 in England & Wales (2025) · #12 in Finland (Swedish-sp.) (2025) · #14 in Switzerland (2025) · #15 in Canada (2025) · #18 in Austria (2025) · #21 in Ireland (2025) and 17 more.

Famous Theos

Theo Walcott — English footballer (born 1989)
Theo van Doesburg — Dutch architect, painter, draughtsman and writer (1883–1931)
Theo van Gogh — Dutch film director (1957–2004)
Théo Hernandez — French footballer (born 1997)
Theo James — British actor and producer (born 1984)
Theo de Raadt — Leader of the OpenBSD project (born 1968)
Theo Jörgensmann — German musician (1948–2025)
Théo van Rysselberghe — Belgian painter (1862–1926)

In stories & tradition

Theo Kojak^pl — Fictitious character in eponymous American TV detective crime drama series
Theo Vertongen^nl — F.C. De Kampioenen (TV series)
Theo Galavan^es — Gotham (TV series)

What Theos become

Among 1,862 notable people named Theo:

Artists & writers appear 1.4× more often than among typical names — e.g. Theo van Doesburg, Dutch architect, painter, draughtsman and writer (1883–1931).

Similar names: Teo · Adonis · Matteo · Ezekiel · Romeo · Leo

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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