Theophilus
Boy name · #2392 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Theophilus? In official American birth records, Theophilus has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
Theophilus is currently the #2392 boy name in the United States — 57 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #3299, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,579 boys born in 2025 was named Theophilus.
The 143-year story
Theophilus first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2022, with 68 babies and a rank of #2150. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Theophilus per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Theophilus against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Theophilus in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Theophilus is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Theophilus will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Theophilus is most common
State-level data for Theophilus is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Theophilus
Statistically, parents drawn to Theophilus tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marcellus, Leviticus, Nicodemus, Theodoros, and Ignatius.
MarcellusLeviticusNicodemusTheodorosIgnatiusKlausThompsonJohannes
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Theophilus | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 57 | #2390 |
| 2024 | 65 | #2210 |
| 2023 | 63 | #2244 |
| 2022 | 68 | #2150 |
| 2021 | 44 | #2819 |
| 2020 | 43 | #2806 |
| 2019 | 42 | #2897 |
| 2018 | 49 | #2579 |
| 2017 | 40 | #2951 |
| 2016 | 48 | #2587 |
| 2015 | 34 | #3299 |
| 2014 | 39 | #2929 |
| 2013 | 38 | #2955 |
| 2012 | 36 | #3115 |
| 2011 | 18 | #4983 |
| 2010 | 16 | #5478 |
| 2009 | 17 | #5334 |
| 2008 | 19 | #4901 |
| 2007 | 26 | #3893 |
| 2006 | 17 | #5072 |
| 2005 | 24 | #3815 |
| 2004 | 17 | #4793 |
| 2003 | 27 | #3366 |
| 2002 | 20 | #4044 |
| 2001 | 16 | #4676 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Theophilus?
In official American birth records, the name Theophilus first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Theophilus a popular boy name?
Theophilus ranked #2392 among boys in 2025 with 57 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3299.
When was the name Theophilus most popular?
Theophilus peaked in 2022, when 68 American boys received the name (ranked #2150 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Theophilus?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,579 newborn American boys was named Theophilus. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.