Theola
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "one chosen by God".
Name Census estimates that about 428 living Americans carry the first name Theola. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Theola today is around 75 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Theola births was 1924 (82 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Theola. 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 Theola is about 75 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Theolas were born before 1961.
People living today
428
~ 1 in 800,828 Americans
Peak year
1924
82 babies that year
Average age
75
years old
1983 SSA rank
#11,933
Tracked since 1895
Popularity
Theola: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Theola from the 1890s through to the 1980s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 565 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Theola 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 Theola during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Theolas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 15 states and territories. South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas recorded the most babies named Theola, while Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 24 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Theola
The name Theola is believed to have originated from the Greek language, derived from the word "Theos," which means "God." It is a feminine name that gained popularity in various regions influenced by Greek culture, particularly in ancient times.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Theola can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was sometimes given to girls born into families that revered the Greek gods and goddesses. The name symbolized a strong connection to the divine and was often associated with religious ceremonies and rituals.
During the Byzantine era, the name Theola was used among Christian communities in the Eastern Roman Empire. It was seen as a way to honor the Christian concept of God while retaining a connection to the ancient Greek heritage. Some historical records from this period mention women named Theola who held positions of importance within the church.
In the Middle Ages, the name Theola gained popularity in certain parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong Greek cultural influences. It was often used by families with ties to the Eastern Orthodox Church, as the name carried a religious connotation aligned with their faith.
Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Theola. One of the earliest recorded was Theola of Corinth (c. 150 AD), a Christian martyr who was reportedly executed for her beliefs during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Another notable figure was Theola the Younger (c. 350 AD), a Byzantine noblewoman and philanthropist known for her charitable works.
During the Renaissance period, the name Theola was used by a few prominent individuals, such as Theola Vitaliani (1472-1539), an Italian humanist scholar and poet who was celebrated for her literary works. In the 18th century, Theola de Angelis (1715-1787), an Italian painter and engraver, gained recognition for her artistic talents.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Theola was Theola Kidder (1942-2015), an American actress best known for her role as Lois Lane in the Superman film series alongside Christopher Reeve. Her portrayal of the iconic character made her a household name and cemented her place in cinematic history.
People
Theola + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Theola 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
Theola: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Theola?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 428 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Theola 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 800,828 US residents.
Is Theola a common name?
We classify Theola as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,099 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Theola most popular?
The single biggest year for Theola was 1924, when 82 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Theola is about 75 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Theola a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Theola 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.
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.