Theodus
A masculine name derived from Greek roots meaning "gift of God".
Name Census estimates that about 85 living Americans carry the first name Theodus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Theodus today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Theodus births was 1921 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Theodus. 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
- • The typical person named Theodus is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Theodus' were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Theodus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
85
~ 1 in 4,032,404 Americans
Peak year
1921
8 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1985 SSA rank
#7,491
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Theodus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Theodus from the 1910s through to the 1980s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 38 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Theodus 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 Theodus 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 Theodus
The name Theodus is a masculine given name derived from the Greek language, with its origins dating back to ancient times. It is a combination of the Greek words "theos," meaning "god," and "doulos," meaning "servant" or "slave." This amalgamation results in a name that can be interpreted as "servant of God" or "one who serves the divine."
The earliest recorded use of the name Theodus can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, where it was particularly prevalent among the Greek-speaking population. It was a popular choice for Christian families, reflecting their devotion to their faith and their desire to dedicate their children to the service of the divine.
The name Theodus gained further recognition and significance during the early centuries of Christianity. It appears in several religious texts and historical records from this period, particularly in the writings of early Church Fathers and hagiographies, which documented the lives of saints and martyrs.
One notable historical figure who bore the name Theodus was a 5th-century Christian martyr from Gaul (modern-day France). He was executed during the reign of the Vandal King Genseric for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His martyrdom was chronicled in various hagiographical accounts, and he is celebrated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
Another prominent individual named Theodus was a 6th-century Byzantine monk and scholar. He is renowned for his extensive writings on theology and his contributions to the development of monastic life in the Eastern Christian tradition.
In the 9th century, a Theodus is mentioned in the Vita Constantini, a biography of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII. This Theodus served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court and played a significant role in the administration of the empire.
Moving forward in time, a Theodus is recorded as a prominent scholar and theologian in the 12th century. He was known for his expertise in the interpretation of Scripture and his influential teachings on Christian doctrine.
While the name Theodus has its roots in ancient Greek culture and early Christianity, it has also been used by various other cultures and communities throughout history. However, due to its relative rarity, comprehensive records of its usage across different regions and time periods may be limited.
People
Theodus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Theodus 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
Theodus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Theodus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 85 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Theodus 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 1 in 4,032,404 US residents.
Is Theodus a common name?
We classify Theodus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 62.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 178 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Theodus most popular?
The single biggest year for Theodus was 1921, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Theodus is about 67 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Theodus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Theodus in the SSA data are male. 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.
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.