Dorothea is a female Greek name which derives from the Greek words “doro” which means gift and “theos” which means God. Dorothea is, thus, God’s gift.
Sound of name Dorothea: Do-ro-thé-a
Male Version of name Dorothea: Dorotheos
Nameday of Dorothea: February 6th
Origin of name Dorothea – St Dorothea
Dorothea was a young woman from Cesarea who lived there during the reign of Saprikios, a ruler who had been sent there by Emperor Diocletian to impose pagan religion. Sarpikios asked Dorothea to deny the Christian religion but did not manage to diminish her resistance.
Then he decided to give her to two sisters that had adopted the pagan religion, thinking that they would be able to persuade her deny Christ, but again the results were the complete opposite of what he had expected. Saprikios had the two sisters burned alive and then he condemned Dorothea. A pagan lawyer, Theofilos, who happened to be there told her mocking her: Dorothea, send me roses from the garden of Christ, and when she was brought to the place of her execution, an angel appeared in the form of a child, holding three big apples and red roses, surprising everyone. Dorothea asked the angel to bring the roses to Theofilos, who was astonished by the fact. Then he also accepted Christ, declaring that the only thing he wanted was to die along with Dorothea and meet her in Heaven. Indeed, he was also decapitated by the same executor.
Dorothea and Theofilos lived there between 284 – 304 AD.
The nameday of Dorothea is on February 6.
Nicknames deriving from name Dorothea
Name Dorothea has a few nicknames and diminutives, such as Thea, Doroula, Dora, Dorothei.
The Names’ Fairy reveals the meaning of name Dorothea
Dorothea is a very energetic woman, who likes doing many things at once. She can be stubborn and likes being needed by other people.