Theoda
A feminine name of Germanic origin meaning "ruler of the people".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Theoda. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 66.7% of registrations being female. The average person named Theoda today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Theoda births was 1911 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Theoda. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Theoda. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1911
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1927 SSA rank
#4,737
Tracked since 1911
Gender
Gender distribution for Theoda
Theoda is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 30 total registrations, 10 (33.3%) were male and 20 (66.7%) were female.
Theoda as a male name
- Ranked #4,737 in 1927
- 5 male births in 1927
- Peak: 1919 (5 births)
Theoda as a female name
- Ranked #5,540 in 1926
- 5 female births in 1926
- Peak: 1911 (5 births)
Popularity
Theoda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Theoda from the 1910s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 20 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Theoda by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Theoda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Theoda
The name Theoda has its linguistic origins in the Germanic languages, specifically in the Old High German and Old English dialects prevalent during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "*þeudō," which translates to "people" or "nation." The name's meaning is often interpreted as "ruler of the people" or "leader of the tribe."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Theoda can be traced back to the 7th century, when it was borne by Theoda I, a Bavarian nobleman and Duke of Bavaria from around 680 to 680. He played a significant role in the consolidation of Bavarian power during the Merovingian period.
In the 9th century, Theoda (or Theodora) was the name of a prominent Byzantine empress who reigned as the co-ruler of the Byzantine Empire alongside her husband, Emperor Theophilos, from 830 until his death in 842. She is remembered for her efforts in promoting the restoration of icons and her patronage of the arts and culture.
Another notable figure with the name Theoda was Theoda, Countess of Barcelona, who lived in the 11th century. She was a powerful noblewoman and the wife of Count Ramon Berenguer I of Barcelona. Theoda played a crucial role in the political affairs of the County of Barcelona during her time.
In the 12th century, Theoda (or Theodora) of Byzantium was a Byzantine princess and the daughter of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos and his wife, Bertha of Sulzbach. She was briefly considered as a potential bride for the future King Richard I of England, but the marriage never materialized.
Theoda was also the name of a 14th-century German nun and mystic, known as Theoda of Munzingen. She was a member of the Dominican Order and is remembered for her spiritual writings and her reputation for piety and holiness.
While the name Theoda has fallen out of common use in modern times, it continues to be a part of historical records and genealogical lineages, serving as a reminder of its rich heritage and connections to various cultures and eras.
People
Theoda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Theoda as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Theoda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Theoda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Theoda going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Theoda a common name?
We classify Theoda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Theoda most popular?
The single biggest year for Theoda was 1911, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Theoda is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Theoda in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Theoda a female name?
Yes, 66.7% of people registered as Theoda in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Theoda still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Theoda in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Theoda can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Theoda?
Want to know how many people share the name Theoda? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.