Theo
How to say it: THEE-oh · /ˈθioʊ/
Short form of Theodore or Theodoros, from Greek meaning 'gift of God'.
Theo was the 90th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 3,945 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up 5.0-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #18 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #90 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 3,945 |
| Share of births | 1 in 777 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | ×5.0 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #18 |
| In France, 2025 | #43 among boys’ names, 1,200 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Right now marks the high point for Theo in the 2020s after steady climbing. At its peak, additional growth is expected.
What goes with it
Breezy and bright in two syllables with a soft breath of sound, Theo feels lively and warm. Milo shares its playful compact style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Theo is about 1 in 33.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #43 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #12. Ireland: #21.
Famous people named Theo
- Theo Walcott (born 1989)English association football player
- Theo van Doesburg (1883–1931)Dutch architect, painter, draughtsman and writer
- Theo de Raadt (born 1968)Leader of the OpenBSD project
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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