Dorothea
Dorothea is a Christian girl name of Greek origin, meaning “Gift of God”.
| Meaning | Gift of God |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Greek |
| Written as | Δωροθέα |
| Pronunciation | dor-uh-THEE-uh |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | Germany, Greece, United Kingdom, United States |
Meaning and origin of Dorothea
Dorothea joins the Greek doron, 'gift', and theos, 'god', so it means 'gift of God'; Theodora uses the same two parts in reverse. It spread through the cult of Saint Dorothea of Caesarea, a fourth-century martyr linked in legend with fruit and roses from paradise. Dorothy is the English form, and Dorothea Brooke, heroine of George Eliot's Middlemarch, gave the longer version a literary glow.
Is Dorothea a Christian name?
Dorothea is a Christian name through Saint Dorothea of Caesarea, an early virgin martyr venerated in both Catholic and Orthodox churches. It does not appear in the Bible.
How popular is Dorothea?
Used regularly in Germany and Greece, and returning slowly in English-speaking countries as a vintage name.
Gifts with the name Dorothea
- Dorothea name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Dorothea baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Dorothea
Names similar to Dorothea
More Christian girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dorothea mean?
Dorothea means 'Gift of God'. It is of Greek origin.
Is Dorothea a Christian name?
Dorothea is a Christian name through Saint Dorothea of Caesarea, an early virgin martyr venerated in both Catholic and Orthodox churches. It does not appear in the Bible.
How do you pronounce Dorothea?
Dorothea is pronounced dor-uh-THEE-uh.
Is Dorothea a boy or girl name?
Dorothea is usually a girl name.