Theophilus
Masculine · “beloved of God”
Theophilus is beloved of God in Greek — and Luke addresses both his gospel and Acts to a man of that name nobody can identify.
How old is the name Theophilus?
Theophilus first appears in US birth records in 1882 — 143 years ago. The typical Theophilus alive today was born around 1980, making them about 45 years old. About 1,700 people named Theophilus are estimated to be alive in the US today.
When was the name Theophilus most popular?
Theophilus peaked in 1885, reaching #936 nationally. Today it ranks #2390, 1,454 places below that high. See the whole 1885 chart.
Where it comes from
From theos philos to Theophilus
The story of Theophilus
Luke opens both his books addressing 'most excellent Theophilus', and two thousand years of scholarship has not established whether he was a patron, an official, a convert, or a name chosen because it means 'lover of God' and so addresses any reader. The name is in current American use.
Meaning
beloved of God, friend of God
From the Greek theos, 'god', and philos, 'loved' or 'friend'. Both elements are ordinary Greek and the compound transparent. Luke dedicates his gospel and Acts to a Theophilus who has never been identified. The Greek is documented.
How the name formed
- theos philos
- Theophilos
- Theophilus
Related forms: Θεόφιλος · Teófilo · Teofilo
Pronouncing Theophilus
thee-OF-ih-lus
Four syllables, stress on the second. Greek says theh-OH-fee-los.
Nicknames for Theophilus
Moderate
What the data says
146 years of official birth records
The long climb, and where it stands now
The same years in position rather than babies
- First recorded
- 1882
- Most boys named
- 202268 — the highest on record
- Peak rank
- #936reached in 1885
- Change vs 2022
- −16.2%57 in 2025, from 68
Rank is a position, a count is a headcount, and they move independently — a name can hold its rank while the number of babies behind it falls. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration.
Theophilus in other languages
The same name elsewhere
- Θεόφιλος in Greek — transliteration
- Teófilo in Spanish — related form
- Teofilo in Italian — related form
Strongest US states over the last decade: California, Texas, Washington.
Theophiluss among us
people named Theophilus are estimated to be alive in the US today
About 1 boy in 29,966 born in 2025 was named Theophilus
Estimated from SSA birth records and published actuarial life tables. Method
Is it right for you
What happens to a name after it peaks
Fashion outlook
Theophilus sits in the calm middle of the cycle — neither chasing a wave nor sliding off one. Middle-of-the-cycle names age slowly and predictably.
A scored estimate from 146 years of naming cycles — not a prophecy. Great names outlive statistics. How this is scored
Where Theophilus is headed
Theophilus looks set to keep climbing gently, with roughly 19% more babies a year by 2030 if the current curve holds.
Medium confidence — fitted on official counts through 2025.
A damped-trend projection of the official birth data — a sketch of momentum, not a promise. Every name's forecast, ranked.
Theophilus beside its neighbors
The names ranked closest to Theophilus in 2025, in babies rather than position — the bars are to scale.
US boys given each name in 2025.
The trade-off
- That nobody knows who Luke was writing to is a first-rate open question.
- Theo and Phil are two short forms, both with real records.
- The beloved-of-God meaning is transparent and warm.
- Four syllables make it very long for everyday use.
- It reads as strongly biblical and old-fashioned.
- It will need spelling out every time.
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What they receive
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Theophilus
Masculine · #2390 in the U.S.
Frequently asked
- How many Theophiluss are there in the world?
- No country counts the world's names, so there is no worldwide figure — anyone quoting one is estimating. About 1,700 people named Theophilus are estimated to be alive in the US today.
- How popular is the name Theophilus in 2025?
- Theophilus ranks #2390 among US boy names in 2025, with 57 babies given the name.
- How rare is the name Theophilus?
- About 1 in every 29,966 US boys born in 2025 was named Theophilus — 57 in all.
- Will my child share the name Theophilus with classmates?
- Theophilus will almost certainly be the only one in school.
Ranked beside Theophilus
Names sitting at a similar level of popularity right now.
Quest#2390 · Jovanny#2390 · Ameen#2390 · Devante#2390 · Austyn#2390 · Deklan#2390 · Erwin#2390 · Blaize#2390
Looking for what else is popular rather than what resembles Theophilus? See the current top 100.
Choosing between Theophilus and another name?
See them side by side — full stats, history and a gentle verdict.
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Which one would you pick?
Your gut first, the numbers after — the split shows once you pick.
US figures from the Social Security Administration. 1880–2025. Data & methodology
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