Theo

♀ Girl

Pronounced THEE-oh /ˈθi.oʊ/Medium

Meaning: Short form of Theodora — from Greek theos, 'god', plus doron, 'gift' — 'gift of God'; here for girlsMedium

In 30 seconds: Gift of God, breezy: Theo shortens Theodora — 'gift of God' — for a daughter. Cool, vintage-fresh, and unisex.

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Origin MediumGreek

MeaningShort form of Theodora — from Greek theos, 'god', plus doron, 'gift' — 'gift of God'; here for girls

U.S. rank (2024)#4537 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births31 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1924

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,482

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Theo is a short form of Theodora — from Greek theos, 'god', plus doron, 'gift' — 'gift of God'. A cool, vintage-fresh unisex name, here for girls.

It registers thinly for girls. Rare for girls, gift-of-God at the root, and cool.

Did you know? Theodora means 'gift of God' (Greek theos + doron) — Theo is its sleek short form, increasingly used for girls as well as boys.

Overall data confidence 72%

Behind the Name — Theodora — root etymology

Variations

TheodoraTheaTeo

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Theo…

Thea— a fellow Greek short name

Theodora— the full name

Cleo— a companion sleek Greek name

Margot— another chic short name

Explore names like Theo

By themegreek unisex nickname-name

By meaningGod / Divine Gift / Blessing

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Theo mean?

Theo shortens Theodora — Greek 'gift of God'.

How do you pronounce Theo?

It's said THEE-oh /ˈθi.oʊ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Theo a boy or girl name?

Theo is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name (short for Theodora).

How popular is Theo?

Theo is rare for girls in the U.S.