An exploration of names with 'Theo-' as their root

Theos is Greek for God so it is not unexpected that it is a common element in many names. The most popular of these is Theodore meaning 'gift of God'. This names has been borne by Presidents (Theodore Roosevelt), Popes and Saints, and has the nicknames Theo and Teddy (giving Teddy-Bear from Roosevelt). Theodore has several related names, and different spellings in other languages:

Male:
Fedor
Feodor
Fyodor
Teodor
Teodoro
Teuvo
Theodoros
Tivadar
Todor - similar to Tudor the Welsh form of the name which became the surname of the royal family 1485-1603 including the infamous Henry VIII and his 6 wives.

Female:
Dorothea - this is a swap of the two elements of Theodore - theos and doron Dorothea (and Dorothy) has the same meaning as Theodore and shares two of its nickames (Dora and Thea) with:
Theodora
Fedora
Tea (Tee-ah)
Teodora
Thea
Theda
Todorka

Another 'Theo-' name is Theophanes meaning 'manifestation of God' - phanes means appearing. Theophanes coined the female name Theophania from which the modern name Tiffany comes. Theophania was used to refer to Epiphany when the Three Wise Men visited the infant Christ. In Medieval times girls born during the Twelve Days of Christmas (25 Dec - 6 Jan) were given a variant of this name. The French changed Theophania to Tifaina and Tifaine.

The next 'Theo-' name is Theodosius meaning 'giving to God' - dosis means giving. From Theodosius we get the female form Theodosia. This name was borne by several early saints.

Theodotus means 'given to God' - dotus means given.

Theodulus means 'slave of God' - doulos meaning slave. This is quite apt as a Christian slave - Zoe and her husband Hesperus, refused to eat the food their Master offered to the pagan Roman Gods when their son was born. The Master then ordered them and their two sons - Syriacus and Theodulus, to be tortured and roasted. Not exactly a pretty connection but an example of early Christian bravery and trust in God.

Theophilus means 'friend of God'. The Book of Acts and Luke's gospel are both addressed toa man name Theophilus. The female form is Theophilia. This is another name that can be rearranged - in Louis de Bernieres book Birds without wings the central female character is named Philothei.

'Judge of God' is the meaning of Theocritus from krites meaning judge. It was the name of a 3rd century Greek poet.

Theophylaktos is my final Greek, male name. As well as being a mouthful and difficult to spell it means 'guarded by God' with phylasso meaning 'to guard'.

Theokleia is a female name from kleia meaning glory and was the name of the first female saint. Her suffering was recorded in the Apocryphal book of 'Acts of Paul and Thecla'. Thecla is a contracted form of the name.

The non-Greek Theo- names

Namely Theobald and Theodoric. These two names are (confusingly) of German origin. The Theo part is from peud meaning 'people'. Theobald simply means 'bold people' and Theodoric means 'ruler of the people' - ric meaning power.