English
Theodore
Theodore comes from Ancient Greek Θεόδωρος, from δῶρον ‘gift’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deh₃- ‘to give’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deh₃-‘to give’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dóh₃r̥‘gift’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*déh₃rom‘gift’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*dṓron‘gift’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδῶρονdôron‘gift’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΘεόδωροςTheódōros
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CETheodōrus
- Englishearliest quotation 1820Theodore
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deh₃-‘to give’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dóh₃r̥‘gift’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*déh₃rom‘gift’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*dṓron‘gift’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδῶρονdôron‘gift’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΘεόδωροςTheódōros
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CETheodōrus
- Englishearliest quotation 1820Theodore
Earliest quotation: 1820, Leigh Hunt, Names: “It is as well certainly not to call a…”
The story
The name was popularized in reference to the prominent St Theodore of Amasea. Unrelated to Theodoric.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deh₃- ‘to give’
data, date, add, die, addition, tradition, delicious, rent, dose, surrender, donate, donation, vent, treason, render, donor, vendor, dow, additive, rendition, rendezvous, antidote, anecdote, condone, dowry, addendum, dowager, perdition, dative, endow, dower, dacha, dati, sconce, 39 more
Today it means
name A male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek]; the name of a saint, pope, several emperors, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *deh₃- / Theodore