Meaning: Its source is Dorothea, a Greek name meaning "Gift of God."

Languages: This girl's name is used in Dutch, English, Greek and Norwegian.

Nickname For: Dorothea and Mathea

Popularity: The name Thea ranked 1371st in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: Most names began as simple expressions. Nothing demonstates this fact better than a comparison between Dorothea and Theodora. The only difference between these names is the order of the elements that make them up -- precisely the same as the difference between the phrases ''Gift of God'' and ''God's gift.''