Theodore

From the Ancient Greek Θεόδωρος (Theódōros, “gift of God”). Unrelated to Theodoric.

Theodore

1. A male given name from Ancient Greek; the name of a saint, pope, several emperors, etc.
   • 1820 Leigh Hunt, Names, The Indicator, No. XVIII, February 9th, 1820:

     It is as well certainly not to call a parcel of idle and ragged young rogues by the titles of Augustus, Orlando, and Theodore: nor does it sound very fitting and heroical to hear a father cry out pompously to his little boy, as we did once, - "You, Sir, there, - Maximilian,- come out of the gutter."

   • 2010, Maggie O'Farrell, The Hand That First Held Mine, Headline, →ISBN, page 234:

     'Perfect. What name are we going to give him?'
     'Theo.'
     'Oh.'
     'As in Theodore.'
     'Isn't that rather a...?' He stopped. Smiled at her again. 'Why Theodore?'
     'I like it. And it suits him. Maybe because it contains the sound 'adore'.'

• TR

• (pet forms): Ted, Tedd, Teddie, Teddy, Theo
• (feminine forms): Theodora
• (as a calque): Bogdan, Bohdan, Božidar

Theodore (plural Theodores)

1. (US, regional) A fiador.

• treehood

Theodore

1. vocative singular of Theodorus