Theophilus
Meaningfriend of God · Greek
- US rank
- #2,390
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #936 in 1885
57 babies were named Theophilus in the US in 2025. It has climbed 416 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1882–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Theophilus you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 29,940 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Theophilus, 57 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Theophilus would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryTheophilus first shows up in US birth records in 1882, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 143 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1885, when it reached #936.
- Then vs nowTheophilus is 3.1× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 93,458 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 29,940.
- TrendTheophilus has climbed 416 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #2,390. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedTheophilus is most popular in Washington, where it ranks #898. It's in the top 1,000 in 1 state.
- MeaningIn Greek, Theophilus means “friend of God”.
About the name Theophilus
Theophilus is a boy name of Greek origin meaning “friend of God”. It has 10 letters and 3 syllables, starting with T and ending in “-lus”. US birth records list Theophilus for boys from 1882 to 2025, in 124 of those 144 years. Its best year was 1885, when it ranked #936 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #2,390, with 57 babies.
Origin:Greek names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 22 | 45,584 boys |
| 1900s | 19 | 53,533 boys |
| 1910s | 25 | 39,277 boys |
| 1920s | 17 | 57,770 boys |
| 1930s | 13 | 78,186 boys |
| 1940s | 9.9 | 100,908 boys |
| 1950s | 11 | 94,073 boys |
| 1960s | 7.7 | 130,208 boys |
| 1970s | 11 | 94,073 boys |
| 1980s | 8.5 | 117,371 boys |
| 1990s | 8.9 | 112,360 boys |
| 2000s | 10 | 97,847 boys |
| 2010s | 19 | 52,029 boys |
| 2020s | 33 | 30,472 boys |
More Greek boy names
- Boy name: Theodore · gift of God
- Boy name: Mateo · gift of God
- Boy name: Lucas · man from Lucania
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Sebastian · venerable
- Boy name: Leo · lion
- Boy name: Thomas · twin
- Unisex name: Miles · possibly gracious
Questions about the name Theophilus
What does the name Theophilus mean?
Theophilus means “friend of God” in Greek.
What is the origin of the name Theophilus?
Theophilus has Greek roots in our records. Other Greek names include Theodore, Mateo, Lucas.
Is Theophilus a boy or girl name?
Theophilus is a boy name.
How popular is the name Theophilus?
Theophilus ranked #2,390 for US boys in 2025, given to 57 babies. Its best year was 1885 (#936).