Many names beginning with the root "Theo-" derive from the Ancient Greek word Theos (Θεός), which means God, for example:
Male namesTheodore, Theodosius, Theodotus, Theophanes, Theophilus, and TheophylactFeminine namesThea, Theodora, Theodosia,Theophania, Theophano and TheoxenaMany other names beginning with "Theo-" do not necessarily derive from Greek, but rather the old Germanic "theud", meaning "people" or "folk". As these names are uncommon today, and in the ancient times they were not spelled with the element "Theo", it is unlikely this nickname was ever applied to these individuals. These names include:
Theobald, Theodahad, Theodard, Theodebert, Theodemir, and TheodoricSee Theo and Théo for a current alphabetical list of all people with the first name Theo or Théo in the English wikipedia.
Among better known people with this name are:
Theo Adam (born 1926), German classical bass-baritoneTheo Albrecht (1922–2010), German entrepreneur and billionaireTheo Angelopoulos (1935–2012), Greek filmmaker, screenwriter and film producerTheo Bos (born 1983), Dutch road and track cyclist, five-time world championTheo van Doesburg (1883–1931), Dutch artist, founder and leader of De StijlTheo Fleury (born 1968), Canadian ice hockey playerTheo Geisel (1904–1991), American author better known as Dr. SeussTheo van Gogh (art dealer) (1857–1891), brother and supporter of painter Vincent van GoghTheo van Gogh (film director) (1957–2004), Dutch film director, great-grandson of the aboveTheo Heemskerk (1852–1932), Dutch Prime MinisterTheo James (born 1984), English actorTheo Jansen (born 1948), Dutch artist and kinetic sculptorTheo Janssen (born 1981), Dutch footballerTheo Jörgensmann (born 1948), German jazz clarinetist and composerTheo Kojak, fictional New York City Police detective on the Kojak television seriesThéo Lefèvre (1914–1973), Belgian Prime MinisterTheo Lingen (1903–1978), German actor, film director and screenwriterTheo Osterkamp (1892–1975), German flying ace in both World War I and World War IITheo Pelouze (1807–1867), French chemistTheo de Raadt (born 1968), founder and leader of the OpenBSD and OpenSSHTheo Ratliff (born 1973), American basketball player (Theophalus)Theo Rossi (born 1975), American actor and producerThéo van Rysselberghe (1862–1926), Belgian neo-impressionist painterTheo Sarapo (1936–1970), French singer and actor, husband of Édith PiafTheo Smyrnaeus (fl. 100 CE), Greek philosopher and mathematician (Theon)Theo Waigel (born 1939), German politician, known as the father of the EuroTheo Walcott (born 1989), English footballerTheo Zagorakis (born 1971), Greek footballer and politician