Given name & surname
Theo
“God”·“gift”·“gift of God”
In English use, Theo is a diminutive of Theodore. Theodore combines “God” and “gift,” giving the meaning “gift of God.” In English use, Theo is a diminutive of Theodora. In Greek use, Theodora carries the interpretation “gift of God.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Theo is a diminutive of Theodore. Theodore combines “God” and “gift,” giving the meaning “gift of God.” In English use, Theo is a diminutive of Theodora. In Greek use, Theodora carries the interpretation “gift of God.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Theo is a diminutive of Theodore. Theodore reached English through French from the Greek name Theodoros.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Theo is used as a shortened form of Theodore. In English use, Theo is a diminutive of Theodore. The shared background comes through Theodore: Theodore’s Greek elements are theos, meaning “god,” and doron, meaning “gift.” French forms provided the route into English.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Theo is a diminutive of Theodore. The history of Theodore gives this family its wider story. Theodore was popular among early Christians and was borne by several saints. That religious history helps explain the name’s spread into different European forms.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Theo through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 39,333
- 35,830 boys · 3,503 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 4,182 babies
- 2025
- 3,966
- #82 for boys · #5,894 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +132%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 99% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 3,945 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 82 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 132.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 21 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (484). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 15,942 as a first name in 2020; 239 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Theo’s family of names
In English usage, Theo is a diminutive of Theodore. In Indonesian usage, Theo as a surname shares an earlier linguistic root with CHONG. In Dutch usage, Theo has a conventional equivalent in the French form Théo.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Theo has relatives in 8 languages.
12 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Theo
- Theo WalcottEnglish association football player (born 1989)
- Theo van DoesburgDutch architect, painter, draughtsman and writer (1883–1931)
- Theo van GoghDutch film director (1957–2004)
- Ferdinand von ZeppelinGerman general and airship pioneer (1838–1917)
- Theo JamesBritish actor and musicianborn 1984
- Theo van GoghDutch art dealer (1857-1891), brother of painter Vincent van Gogh
- Theo JörgensmannGerman musician1948–2025
- Theo de RaadtLeader of the OpenBSD projectborn 1968
- Théo BongondaDR Congolese footballerborn 1995
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Theo, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Leo
“lion” · “resembling a lion”
>99% boys
Thiago
“a courageous man”
>99% boys
Enzo
“the ruler of the estate”
>99% boys
Matteo
“gift of God” · “a gift from God”
>99% boys
Eithan
“firmness” · “long-lived”
>99% boys
Tadeo
“having heart”
>99% boys
Mateo
“gift of God” · “a gift from God”
>99% boys
Romeo
“pilgrim to Rome”
>99% boys