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 Melina mean?
Melina is linked to the Greek for “honey.”
Dorothea vs Melina
Which is more popular?
Melina is more popular than Dorothea today: about 434 US babies were given the name Melina in 2025, compared with 0 named Dorothea.
| Dorothea | Melina | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | gift of God | Honey |
| Origin | greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | dor-ə-THEE-ə | muh-LEE-nah |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1883 |
| Peak year | 1920 (1,110) | 2009 (681) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 434 |
| Trend | Vintage | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Dorothea
Melina
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Dorothea | Melina |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 464 | 2,724 |
| 2010s | 345 | 4,946 |
| 2000s | 210 | 5,413 |
| 1990s | 299 | 3,089 |
| 1980s | 478 | 1,634 |
| 1970s | 768 | 1,104 |
| 1960s | 2,326 | 616 |
| 1950s | 3,008 | 118 |
| 1940s | 3,111 | 34 |
| 1930s | 4,180 | 16 |
| 1920s | 8,518 | 57 |
| 1910s | 7,750 | 82 |
| 1900s | 1,810 | 40 |
| 1890s | 807 | 36 |
| 1880s | 347 | 17 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dorothea or Melina more popular?
Melina is more popular than Dorothea today: about 434 US babies were given the name Melina in 2025, compared with 0 named Dorothea.
What is the difference between Dorothea and Melina?
Dorothea means gift of God (greek origin), while Melina means Honey (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Dorothea or Melina?
In US records, Dorothea first appears in 0 and Melina in 1883, so Dorothea has the longer recorded history.