Dorotea

Greek

"gift of God"

Dorotea Origin and Meaning

The name Dorotea is a girl's name.

Dorotea is a feminine name of Greek origin, representing the Spanish, Italian, and Eastern European form of Dorothy. It derives from the Greek elements 'doron' meaning 'gift' and 'theos' meaning 'God,' thus translating to 'gift of God.' This beautiful name has been used since early Christian times, with Saint Dorothea of Caesarea being a 4th-century martyr. While Dorothy became enormously popular in English-speaking countries, particularly in the early 20th century, Dorotea maintained a more consistent, moderate usage in Southern and Eastern European countries. The name carries an elegant, classical quality with its flowing four syllables and offers a more distinctive alternative to the more familiar Dorothy, while still allowing for the cute nickname Dora.

The name Dorotea in Pop Culture

• La Dorotea title character of Lope de Vega's classic Spanish prose romance of the same name (1632); modeled on the actress Elena Osorio