Theodoulos is the Greek original form of Theodulus, a masculine given name composed of the elements theos (θεός) meaning "god" and doulos (δοῦλος) meaning "slave" or "servant", thus giving the meaning "servant of God". The name is a theophoric name, paralleling other names like Christodoulos, and is structurally similar to Arabic Abdullah and Hebrew Obadiah, which carry the same semantic meaning. Historical and Religious Context Theodoulos was borne by several early saints and martyrs in Christian tradition. The name appears in hagiographies of saints from various regions, including a supposed son of Nilus of Sinai, a martyr with Anesius in Africa, and a companion of Pope Alexander I. A notable early bearer is Theodulus of Grammont (died c. 400), a bishop of Sion. In the Byzantine period, Theodoulos Parsakoutenos (fl. 960s) was a general. The name also appears in a literary context: the Eclogue of Theodulus is a Latin verse dialogue traditionally attributed to a 'Theodulus', likely a scholar from the Carolingian era. Variants and Distribution The name was Latinized as Theodulus, which entered early Christian usage; from Latin it spread into Romance languages, yielding Spanish Teódulo. The base meaning 'servant of God' resonated across cultures, leading to calqued names like the aforementioned Abdullah and Obadiah. Theodoulos remains in use in Greece and among Orthodox Christian communities, though it is less common today than many other related names. Meaning: "servant of God" (from Greek theos + doulos) Origin: Greek Type: First name Usage regions: Greece, early Christian world