Thea
Thea was the 353rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 867 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 268th; the most babies were born in 2018 (1,209). Over the last ten years it has moved up 111 places. More babies were named Thea in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning short form of Dorothea or Theodora · Greek
Say it THEE-uh /ˈθiə/
- Rank in 2025
- #353 girls, down 50 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 867girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20181,209 babies
- Total since 1880
- 20,118babies recorded
What does the name Thea mean?
Thea began as a short form of Dorothea or Theodora. Both contain Greek theos, "god", and dōron, "gift", in opposite orders; DMNES glosses Dorothy "gift of God" and notes Theodora has the same etymology. Wiktionary also points to Greek theá, "goddess", which Thea matches in form. It is now used as a name on its own.
θεός (Ancient Greek, “god”)δῶρον (Ancient Greek, “gift”)θεά (Ancient Greek, “goddess”)
How sure is this? Well established. Short form of Dorothea/Theodora; the match with Greek 'goddess' is noted by Wiktionary.
Related names: Dorothea, Theodora, Theia, Tea.
See also: Greek names, names that mean God, names that mean gift.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Thea', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Dorothy', DMNES, Durham University
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Theodora', DMNES, Durham University
Thea popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 5 since 1924.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #353 | 867 |
| 2020 | #303 | 1,071 |
| 2010 | #1,544 | 145 |
| 2000 | #1,600 | 111 |
| 1990 | #1,223 | 138 |
| 1980 | #1,076 | 132 |
| 1970 | #1,153 | 101 |
| 1960 | #1,046 | 106 |
| 1950 | #996 | 85 |
| 1940 | #1,183 | 39 |
| 1930 | #1,701 | 23 |
| 1920 | #1,702 | 25 |
| 1910 | #1,913 | 8 |
| 1900 | #1,713 | 7 |
| 1890 | #1,087 | 8 |
| 1880 | #827 | 6 |
How popular is Thea, counting every spelling?
Thea has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #383 for girls in 2025, against #353 on the official list, because Londyn/London/Londynn and Jazlyn/Jazlynn/Jazzlyn and Macie/Maci/Macy move ahead once their spellings are combined.
How many kids will share the name Thea?
867 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Thea (0.24 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Thea born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 10 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Thea.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Thea?
About 18,500 people born in the US named Thea are alive today, with a median age of 9; half are between 5 and 30. That makes Thea a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Thea by state
How common Thea was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in North Dakota (5.1×), South Dakota (4.9×), Montana (3.8×), Nebraska (3.5×), Iowa (3.1×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Thea: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Thea, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Thea · Sibling names for Thea
Thea is also a nickname for Athena, Theodora and Dorothea.
Questions about the name Thea
What does Thea mean?
Thea means “short form of Dorothea or Theodora” (Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Thea?
Thea was the 353rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 867 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 268th; the most babies were born in 2018 (1,209). Over the last ten years it has moved up 111 places. More babies were named Thea in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Thea a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Thea in the US.
Where is Thea most popular?
In 2021–2025, Thea was most common in North Dakota (3.04 per 1,000 girls), followed by South Dakota and Montana.