Dorothea is a striking classic name for girls. Known as a given name since antiquity, Dorothea continues to appear throughout popular culture today. Dorothea Brooke is the name of a lead character in Middlemarch by George Eliot, and Dorothea Arnault is a character in the Fire Emblem series. Keep reading to learn more about this baby name.
Meaning of the name Dorothea:
Greek: Gift of God
Origin of the name Dorothea:
Dorothea originates from the Greek name Δωρόθεος. It combines the Greek elements δῶρον (meaning “gift”) and θεός (meaning “God”). This combination also produced a plethora of related names. For example, the Greek name Theodora combined the same elements in reverse order.
Symbolism of the name Dorothea:
Dorothea is a Greek name that means “gift of God.” Historically, one of the most famous bearers of the name was Saint Dorothea of Caesarea. This saint is a Christian martyr known for her commitment to monotheism. The symbol of this saint is the platter of apples. She is the patron saint of florists, gardeners, and horticulture.
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Style of the name Dorothea:
Classic
Gender of the name Dorothea:
Dorothea is a girl's baby name.
Pronunciation of the name Dorothea:
doh-roh-THEE-ah
Number of syllables in the name Dorothea:
Four
Emotion evoked from the name Dorothea:
The name Dorothea evokes feelings of benevolence and bliss.
Alternative spellings for the name Dorothea:
- Dorothée
- Dorotéia
- Dorotea
- Doroteja
- Dorottya
- Dorthea
- Doroteya
Nicknames for the name Dorothea:
- Dora
- Dorie
- Dory
- Dodi
- Dodie
- Dot
- Dottie
- Dotty
- Thea
- Tea
Popularity of the name Dorothea:
According to the Social Security Administration index, Dorothea was the 976th most popular baby name for girls in 1970.
Related names for the name Dorothea:
Great middle names for Dorothea and their meanings:
- Amber (resin, gemstone, jewel)
- Bronte (thunder, one who bestows)
- Charis (grace, kindness, life)
- Elsie (my God is an oath)
- Gladys (country, nation, princess, small sword)
- Honor (dignity, reputation, virtue)
- Isis (queen, throne)
- Mabel (lovable)
- Saki (blossom of hope)
- Verity (truth)
- Yolande (violet flower, modesty)
Famous people with the name Dorothea:
- Dorothea Maria Anhalt (duchess)
- Dorothea Primrose Campbell (poet)
- Dorothea Mae Towles Church (model)
- Dorothea Katherine Douglass (tennis player)
- Dorothea Lynde Dix (social reformer and activist)
- Dorothea Christiane Erxleben (physician)
- Dorothea Ann Fairbridge (writer)
- Dorothea Margaretta Lange (photojournalist)
- Dorothea Lasky (poet)
- Dorothea Margaret Tanning (painter)
Dorothea in popular culture:
- Dorothea Arnault (character in the Fire Emblem series)
- Dorothea Brooke (character in Middlemarch by George Eliot)