Dorothea
/ˌdɔːrəˈθiːə/noun
A feminine given name of Greek origin meaning “gift of God.”
Did you know?Dorothea comes from the same Greek root as the divine name Theodoros, so it’s part of a whole family of names built around the idea of gifts from the gods.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Dōrótheos / Dōrothéa
““Gift of God,” from dōron (“gift”) + theos (“god”).”
Late Antiquity
Greek
Dorotheos / Dorothea
“A Christian personal name used by saints and believers.”
Latin
Latin
Dorothea
“Borrowed and preserved as a feminine given name in ecclesiastical and learned use.”
Middle English / Early Modern English
English
Dorothea
“Adopted as a literary and aristocratic female given name.”
Modern English
English
Dorothea
“A feminine given name, still used today.”