Theophus
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "loved by God" or "friend of God".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Theophus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Theophus today is around 68 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Theophus births was 1957 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Theophus. 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 Theophus is about 68 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Theophus' were born before 1968.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Theophus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1957
5 babies that year
Average age
68
years old
1957 SSA rank
#4,501
Tracked since 1957
Popularity
Theophus: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Theophus 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 Theophus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Theophus
The name Theophus has its origins in the Greek language, derived from the words "theos" meaning "god" and "philus" meaning "beloved" or "dear to." It was a popular name in ancient Greece and later spread to other regions influenced by Greek culture.
During the Byzantine era, Theophus was a name borne by several notable figures, including Theophus the Confessor, a 9th-century Byzantine monk and theologian known for his writings on the Orthodox faith. Another historical figure with this name was Theophus of Antioch, a 4th-century bishop who played a significant role in the Council of Nicaea.
In the Middle Ages, the name Theophus appeared in various European regions, particularly in areas with strong Greek or Byzantine cultural influence. One notable bearer of the name was Theophus of Ephesus, a 12th-century scholar and theologian renowned for his contributions to the study of Aristotelian philosophy.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Theophus can be traced back to ancient Greek inscriptions and manuscripts from the 5th century BCE. Over the centuries, the name has appeared in various spellings, such as Theophilus, Theophil, and Theophylact, reflecting regional variations and linguistic adaptations.
Among the famous individuals who bore the name Theophus throughout history are:
1. Theophus of Damas (c. 117 - c. 198 CE), a Greek philosopher and rhetorician who wrote extensively on various subjects, including ethics and rhetoric.
2. Theophus of Alexandria (c. 248 - c. 335 CE), a Christian scholar and bishop of Alexandria who played a crucial role in the early development of Christian theology.
3. Theophus the Indian (c. 5th century CE), a Christian missionary and explorer who traveled extensively in India and is believed to have introduced Christianity to parts of the subcontinent.
4. Theophus Presbyter (c. 6th century CE), a Byzantine monk and author who wrote extensively on the lives of early Christian saints and martyrs.
5. Theophus of Constantinople (c. 1070 - c. 1107 CE), a Byzantine scholar and theologian who served as the Patriarch of Constantinople and played a significant role in the Byzantine Renaissance.
While the name Theophus has its roots in ancient Greek culture, it has since been adopted and adapted by various cultures and linguistic traditions, reflecting the enduring influence of Greek language and civilization across the centuries.
People
Theophus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Theophus 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
Theophus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Theophus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Theophus 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Theophus a common name?
We classify Theophus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Theophus most popular?
The single biggest year for Theophus was 1957, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Theophus is about 68 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 Theophus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Theophus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Theophus 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.
Is Theophus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Theophus 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 Theophus 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 are named Theophus?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.