Meaning: Its source is Theodorus, a Greek name meaning "God's gift."

Languages: This boy's name is used in German, Dutch and English.

Nickname For: Theodore and Theobald

Popularity: The name Theo ranked 1023rd in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Meaning: Its source is Theodorus, a Greek name meaning "God's gift."

Nickname For: Theodora

Popularity: The name Theo ranked 2597th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: Most names began as simple expressions. Nothing demonstates this fact better than a comparison between Theodora and Dorothea. The only difference between these names is the order of the elements that make them up -- precisely the same as the difference between the phrases ''God's gift'' and ''Gift of God.''