UK boy's name
Theophilus
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "loved by God" or "friend of God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Theophilus is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Theophilus popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 13 births.
This profile covers 155 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 46% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 154 living people in the UK are called Theophilus. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Theophilus ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 13 boys were registered as Theophilus.
- • About 154 living people in the UK are estimated to have Theophilus as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2013
13 births
Estimated living
154
2026
Meaning
What does Theophilus mean?
The name Theophilus has its origins in Greek, deriving from the combination of the words "theos" meaning "god" and "philos" meaning "lover" or "friend." Together, Theophilus translates to "friend of God" or "beloved of God." The name first appeared during the Hellenistic period, which spanned from the 4th to the 1st century BC.
Theophilus holds significance in various religious and historical contexts. In the New Testament of the Bible, the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are addressed to a person named Theophilus, though his identity remains uncertain. It is believed that he may have been a prominent Roman official or a wealthy patron who sponsored Luke's writings.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Theophilus can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentioned a man named Theophilus of Antioch in his work "Annals." This Theophilus lived in the 2nd century AD and was known for his writings defending Christianity against pagan critics.
Another notable figure named Theophilus was Theophilus of Alexandria, a patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who lived from around 345 to 412 AD. He is remembered for his involvement in the controversy surrounding the teachings of Origen and for his role in the expulsion of St. John Chrysostom from Constantinople.
In the 6th century, there was a Byzantine historian named Theophilus of Byzantium, who wrote a work called "Chronographia," which chronicled events from the creation of the world to the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Maurice.
During the Renaissance period, Theophilus was the name of a renowned German monk and artist who lived in the late 11th or early 12th century. He wrote a treatise on the arts and crafts of his time, titled "De Diversis Artibus" or "On Divers Arts," which provided valuable insights into the techniques and materials used by medieval artists.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Theophilus throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence across different cultures and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Theophilus over time
The chart below shows babies named Theophilus registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Theophilus, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Theophilus by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Theophilus was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3889 | 23 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2797 | 78 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2566 | 48 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2861 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Theophilus
- Thomas 160,894
- Tyler 42,147
- Theo 40,594
- Toby 32,482
- Theodore 30,211
- Tommy 25,300
- Teddy 20,781
- Taylor 14,354
- Tobias 13,102
- Tom 9,822
- Tristan 9,171
- Timothy 6,200
FAQ
Theophilus: questions and answers
How popular is the name Theophilus in the UK right now?
In 2024, Theophilus was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Theophilus most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 13 babies registered as Theophilus in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Theophilus?
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "loved by God" or "friend of God".
How many people are called Theophilus in the UK?
A total of 155 babies have been registered as Theophilus across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.