Dorothea

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

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

Nicknames: Dottie, Thea, Door and Dorien

Compound Forms: Dorolinda

Variant Forms: Doreatha, Doretha, Dorethea, Dorotha and Dorthea

Non-English Forms: Dorotea, Doortje and Doroteja

Popularity: The name Dorothea ranked 587th 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.''

Arts and Music

Dorothea Lange (born 1895, died 1965)
American photographer best known for her photographs of the Great Depression and migrant laborers.
- A member of the International Photography Hall of Fame (see list of International Photography Hall of Fame)
Dorothea Tanning (born 1910)
American painter.
- Painted Guardian Angels (see list of 20th-century Contemporary Artists)

Leadership

Dorothea Dix (born 1802, died 1887)
American philanthropist, teacher and crusader for the mentally ill.
- Served as superintendent of women nurses in the U.S. Civil War, in the face of strong opposition from the medical establishment (see list of Noted Social Reformers and Educators)

Miscellaneous

Dorothea Dix (born 1802, died 1887)
American philanthropist, teacher and crusader for the mentally ill.
- Member of National Women''s Hall of Fame (see list of National Women's Hall of Fame Members)
Dorothea ''Dolley'' Payne Todd Madison (born 1768, died 1849)
- Wife of James Madison, 4th President (see list of United States First Ladies)

Science and Philosophy

Dorothea Leporin-Erxleben
German physician.
- First licensed female physician in Germany (see list of Medical Practitioners)

Sports

Dorothea Lambert Chambers
British tennis player.
- 1910-11, 1913-14 Wimbledon tennis champion (see list of Wimbledon Tennis Champions)
Dorothea Douglass
- 1903-04, 1906 Wimbledon tennis champion (see list of Wimbledon Tennis Champions)