Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Theophilus

60 replies

Lorraineee · 13/11/2020 16:34

Hello, I was hoping I could get some feedback on this name. I like the name Theo but I'm not a fan of Theodore and my son is due in a week. I'm completely stuck on names but a friend mentioned the name Theophilus to me and said I could use Theo as a nickname. What do you think of the name Theophilus?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
SunshineCake · 13/11/2020 18:45

Theo on its own is perfectly fine. That other name is ridiculous.

Bmidreams · 13/11/2020 18:45

Just go for Theo.

Buffledmom · 13/11/2020 18:43

Theodore !

Soulstirring · 13/11/2020 18:32

For goodness sake if you like Theo call him Theo. Don’t saddle him with that 😂

missmouse101 · 13/11/2020 18:31

It sounds like something contained in live yoghurt. No from me!

TicTacTwo · 13/11/2020 18:30

I would use Theo on its own. I think it's one of those names like Kate which are known as a short form of a longer name but sound good as a stand-alone name too.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 13/11/2020 18:27

No, too much I think. I'm not keen on nn's on the BC either (or the sound of Theodore either like you OP), but I actually think Theo stands okay on it's own (probably due to it's similarity to Leo). Theoden (Tolkien name) sounds kinds cool though....

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 13/11/2020 17:50

Middle name "Penicillin"?

Lobsterquadrille2 · 13/11/2020 17:46

It was Mr Goon the policeman's name, in the Five Find Outers books .... I'd say no, sorry.

NannyR · 13/11/2020 17:45

Another one who thought immediately of Lenny Henry, especially when he seduced Delia Smith on a bed of lettuce!! (probably late eighties)

pistolknight · 13/11/2020 17:45

Definitely Wildebeest

helloxhristmas · 13/11/2020 17:41

Awful. Goes with Syphilis.

DesperatelySeekingSunshine · 13/11/2020 17:39

Sounds like a strain of yeast... just Theo is lovely though.

peakotter · 13/11/2020 17:37

The point of a longer name is that he can use it if the nickname is too informal. Theophilus doesn’t really work for that.

It always reminds me of Acts 1:1. There are some biblical names that are best left there.

5lilducks · 13/11/2020 17:35

I don't like it, sorry. Theo is much better or even Theandre shortened to Theo) perhaps.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 13/11/2020 17:35

Odder not offer.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 13/11/2020 17:34

I know a little Théophile, and an adult Theophilus (from the Caribbean, where he says it is not unusual). I don't see that it's any offer than Theodore or Theobold.

Icedteaplease · 13/11/2020 17:29

I honestly thought this was a spoof thread. Don't call your child that under any circumstances. Theo on its own is absolutely lovely.

thekoalassocks · 13/11/2020 17:29

Sounds like a dinosaur. Not a fan, sorry.

merryhouse · 13/11/2020 17:28

but what if he's an atheist?

MikeUniformMike · 13/11/2020 17:27

It's much nicer than Theodore. Use it.

Chilldonaldchill · 13/11/2020 17:26

I think it's too much.
I like Theodore but I know several boys just called Theo so I think that's fine on its own.
I know a Theon if you like that idea.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 13/11/2020 17:01

Another one who thought Theophilus P Wildebeest here, too. But I love Lenny Henry, so it wouldn’t necessarily put me off the name.

That said, I would prefer Theodore. Or I might consider Theo itself.

reefedsail · 13/11/2020 16:56

It sounds like a disease. Does it pretty much rhyme with scrofulous?

I think just Theo is fine. Or Theon if you want different.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 13/11/2020 16:56

Sounds like an STD sorry ☹️

Swipe left for the next trending thread