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Theodore

Say it THEE-uh-dor

Meaning: Gift of God: Greek theos, "god", and dōron, "gift" Bailly
Say it: THEE-uh-dor
Other spellings: Theodor, Teodoro

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Theodore

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Theodore meaning

Theodore is an international and Christian boy's name of Greek origin.

Gift of God: Greek theos, "god", and dōron, "gift"

Theodore comes from the Greek name Theodōros, which joins theos, 'god', with dōron, which Liddell, Scott and Jones give as a gift or present, so it means 'gift of God'. It is the same idea as the Sanskrit devadatta, which Monier-Williams glosses 'god-given', and Greek writers from Herodotus to Plato mention men of the name. Several early saints carried it, including Theodore of Tarsus, a seventh-century archbishop of Canterbury. In modern times the US president Theodore Roosevelt made it famous, and gave his nickname to the teddy bear. Baby-name lists give 'gift of God', which matches. It is said THEE-uh-dor.

Source: Bailly, Dictionnaire grec-français (2024 edition), via Logeion · entry Θεόδωρος · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Logeion, Θεόδωρος (Bailly) · LSJ, δῶρον (via Logeion) · Monier-Williams, deva-datta, p. 493