Theophilus
/ˌθiː.əˈfɪl.əs/noun
A masculine given name meaning “lover of God” or “beloved by God,” also borne by several historical and biblical figures.
Did you know?Theophilus comes from Greek naming tradition, where names could function like declarations of destiny: not just who you were, but what divine force you were aligned with.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Theóphilos (Θεόφιλος)
““God-loving” or “loved by God,” built from theos “god” + philos “loving, dear””
Hellenistic Greek
Greek
Theóphilos
“Used as a personal name in the Greek-speaking world”
Late Latin
Latin
Theophilus
“Borrowed as a Christian name in ecclesiastical and scholarly use”
Old French
Old French
Theophile
“A learned or saintly personal name in medieval usage”
Modern English
English
Theophilus
“A male given name, especially in historical, biblical, and literary contexts”