boy's name
Theo
THEE-oh
- Origin Greek
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 4
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 232,890
the United States
#82
2025 births
Theo is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning "god," from theos. It began as a short form of Theodore, meaning gift of God, and of Theobald, which is unrelated and Germanic — so its meaning depends on which name it shortens.
- Theo is a name of Greek origin.
- Peaked in England and Wales in 2022, when 2,808 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade in England and Wales.
- Today about 1 in 220 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1996.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Theo over time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 2020s. Theo is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 40 |
| 1910s | 60 |
| 1920s | 90 |
| 1930s | 125 |
| 1940s | 145 |
| 1950s | 130 |
| 1960s | 100 |
| 1970s | 100 |
| 1980s | 995 |
| 1990s | 27,670 |
| 2000s | 63,035 |
| 2010s | 31,150 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 10,105 |
What Theo means
Theo means god, from the Greek theos, when taken from Theodore. Taken from Theobald it means something quite different — bold people, from Germanic elements — and sources reporting both are describing two separate parents.
Where Theo comes from
Theo is a short form with two unrelated parents. Theodore comes from the Greek Theodoros, from theos, god, and doron, gift. Theobald is Germanic, from theud, people, and bald, bold or brave, and reached England with the Normans — the two names sound similar in their opening syllable purely by accident. Theo also shortens Theophilus, Theodora and Theodosius, all Greek and all built on theos. In modern English use Theodore is by far the usual parent, and Theo has become an independent name in its own right, particularly in Britain and the Netherlands.
Theo in use
Theodore is Greek and Theobald is Germanic — their shared short form is a coincidence of sound, not descent.
How popular is Theo?
In 2025, Theo was given to 2,398 babies in England and Wales, ranking #12 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Theo is used
Figures for England and Wales withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
How Theo is spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Théo | Théo is Theo written with an acute accent in France, and the spelling parents there overwhelmingly choose: it ranks #41 in France, against #832 for Theo. | 128,333 |
| Thèo | Thèo is a rare spelling of Theo, written with a grave accent and recorded about 20 times, mostly in France. | 20 |
| Thëo | Thëo is a rare spelling of Theo, written with a diaeresis and recorded about 15 times, mostly in France. | 15 |
Names that peaked alongside Theo
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Theo also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Theo over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Theo in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Theo
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Theo — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Theo
What does the name Theo mean?
Theo means "god," from the Greek theos, when taken from Theodore.
Is Theo short for Theodore?
Usually, though it also shortens the unrelated Germanic Theobald.
Is Theo a name on its own?
Yes. It is widely given independently, particularly in Britain and the Netherlands.
How popular is the name Theo?
In 2025, Theo was given to 2,398 babies in England and Wales, ranking #12 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Is Theo a girl's or a boy's name?
Theo is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Theo?
Theo has 2 syllables.
When was Theo most popular?
Theo peaked in 2022, when 2,808 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Theo a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Theo currently ranks #4 in England and Wales. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.