Theo
Theo is a given name and a hypocorism.
- English
- German
- Dutch
- Swedish
Meaning & Origin of Theo
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Theo is a given name and a hypocorism.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
- German
- Dutch
- Swedish
- Norwegian
- Danish
- French
The Story of Theo
As a girl name
American parents first put Theo on the record books as a girl name in 1880, with 7 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1924, when 111 Theos were born — ranking #705 that year. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 24% of all recorded Theos. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #4,525 among girl names with 31 births, rising sharply (+22% over the past five years). In total, more than 4K Theos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Theo first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1880, with 9 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2026: 4,748 births, good for #74 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 63% of all recorded Theos. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #74 among boy names with 4,748 births, rising sharply (+117% over the past five years). In total, more than 41K Theos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Theo
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Theo. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Theo
Phonetically similar names — useful when Theo is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Theo
What does the name Theo mean?
What is the origin of the name Theo?
How popular is Theo in 2026?
When was Theo most popular?
In which U.S. states is Theo most popular?
Is Theo a unisex name?
What names go well with Theo?
What are nicknames or variants of Theo?
About the name Theo
Theo is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 41K births in the dataset. Theo's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #74. Use the chart and map above to compare Theo's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "T" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.