Theodore is a name of Greek origin that means "gift of God." It has been used for centuries and was traditionally given to boys in honor of Saint Theodore, who was martyred in the fourth century AD.
The name Theodore gained popularity during the medieval period when it was associated with several saints and martyrs. It was also a popular choice among European royalty, with several kings and princes named Theodore throughout history.
In literature, Theodore has been used as a character name in various works, such as "Thodore Roosevelt" in American politics, and "Theodore 'Laurie' Laurence" in Louisa May Alcott's novel "Little Women."
Over time, the name Theodore has evolved to have several variations and nicknames. Some popular versions include Theo, Teddy, Ted, and Theobert.
Today, Theodore is still a beloved name that continues to be given to boys around the world. It remains a timeless choice that carries with it a rich history and meaningful significance.
Theodore is a classic name that has seen varied popularity over the past century in the United States. According to the statistics provided, Theodore first peaked in popularity around the early 1900s with an average of about 8 births per year between 1902 and 1914.
Interestingly, during World War I (1917-1918), there was a significant increase in the number of babies named Theodore, with 31 births recorded in 1919. This trend continued into the early 1920s with numbers fluctuating between 16 and 34 births per year until 1929.
Theodore's popularity began to decline in the late 1930s, with fewer than 20 births recorded each year from 1937 onwards. This trend continued throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with Theodore only occasionally breaking into double digits.
However, there has been a recent resurgence in popularity for this classic name. After decades of minimal usage, Theodore saw an increase in births starting from the late 1970s, peaking at 21 births in 1956 and again in 1983 with 6 births each year.
In total, there were 1136 babies named Theodore born in the United States over this period. This demonstrates that while Theodore may not have been consistently popular throughout history, it has enjoyed several periods of resurgence and remains a timeless choice for parents seeking a classic name for their child.