What does Dorothea mean?
From Greek Dorothea, combining doron 'gift' + theos 'God' — 'gift of God'. It is the exact reversal of the elements in Theodora/Theodore.
What does Delia mean?
Delia means “of Delos,” the island birthplace of Artemis.
Dorothea vs Delia
Which is more popular?
Delia is more popular than Dorothea today: about 135 US babies were given the name Delia in 2025, compared with 0 named Dorothea.
| Dorothea | Delia | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | gift of God | Of Delos |
| Origin | greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | dor-ə-THEE-ə | DEEL-yah |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1920 (1,110) | 1957 (490) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 135 |
| Trend | Vintage | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Dorothea
Delia
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Dorothea | Delia |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 464 | 873 |
| 2010s | 345 | 1,973 |
| 2000s | 210 | 2,346 |
| 1990s | 299 | 2,191 |
| 1980s | 478 | 2,213 |
| 1970s | 768 | 2,976 |
| 1960s | 2,326 | 3,856 |
| 1950s | 3,008 | 4,589 |
| 1940s | 3,111 | 3,213 |
| 1930s | 4,180 | 2,853 |
| 1920s | 8,518 | 2,829 |
| 1910s | 7,750 | 2,360 |
| 1900s | 1,810 | 1,629 |
| 1890s | 807 | 1,871 |
| 1880s | 347 | 1,546 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dorothea or Delia more popular?
Delia is more popular than Dorothea today: about 135 US babies were given the name Delia in 2025, compared with 0 named Dorothea.
What is the difference between Dorothea and Delia?
Dorothea means gift of God (greek origin), while Delia means Of Delos (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Dorothea or Delia?
In US records, Dorothea first appears in 0 and Delia in 1880, so Dorothea has the longer recorded history.