Holding steady, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Theophil since 1912
Babies named Theophil per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 101 |
| 1920s | 86 |
| 1930s | 10 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 11 |
Meaning & origin
Theophil is a remarkably rare name drawn from the Greek Theophilos, meaning 'friend of God.' It appears in the New Testament as the recipient of Luke's Gospel, but as a given name it never gained wide use. First recorded in U.S. data in 1912, it peaked that same year at rank 10,695, and as of 2025 it remains at rank 10,695 with a 1 in 284,679 incidence. Its trajectory has been stable, showing no sign of revival. Theophil never appeared among top state lists, reflecting its extreme scarcity. For parents seeking a name with strong religious resonance and a classic Greek pedigree, Theophil offers a distinctive alternative to more common choices like Theodore or Timothy.
Theophil derives from the Greek name Theophilos, composed of theos 'god' and philos 'friend' or 'beloved.' It appears in the New Testament as the addressee of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, though as a given name it remained rare. It saw limited use among early Christians and later in German-speaking regions, but has never been common in the English-speaking world.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Theo, Phil
Variants: Theophile, Theophilus, Teofil, Teofilo, Téophile
Sibling names for Theophil
Names that share Theophil's style, for a brother or sister.
