The nameDorothea
Dorothea is the full, Greek form of Dorothy. It is coming back in England and Wales.
- Girl's name
- Greek
- Feast day
Meaning
Dorothea means "gift of God", from the Greek doron, "gift", and theos, "God".
Origin
Greek.
History
George Eliot gave the name to Dorothea Brooke, heroine of Middlemarch. In the United States Dorothea reached 174th place in 1912. In England and Wales it reached 811th in 2024.
Famous people named Dorothea
- Dorothea Lange, photographer
Popularity of the name Dorothea
Dorothea in the United States
Dorothea was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 8,518 births over the decade, 25% of all recorded babies named Dorothea. Its rise began around 1898, and it peaked in 1920. Half of all babies named Dorothea in the United States were born before 1926, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 70 births a year on average, against 47 in the five years before.
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Dorothea
Names from the same generation as Dorothea, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Dorothea? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Dorothea with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Dorothea side by side with the name of your choice.
Dorothea in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dorothea mean?
Dorothea means "gift of God", from the Greek doron, "gift", and theos, "God".
What is the origin of the name Dorothea?
Greek.
Is Dorothea a girl's or a boy's name?
Dorothea is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Dorothea?
In 2024, Dorothea was the 2072nd most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 93 births.
What are the variants of the name Dorothea?
Variants and related names of Dorothea include Thea.
What are good sibling names for Dorothea?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Margaux, Althea, Gaia and Naia for a sister, Yanis, Oswald, Alessio and Yuri for a brother.
Who are famous people named Dorothea?
Dorothea Lange, photographer.