What does Theodora mean?
Feminine of Theodore, from Greek theos 'God' + doron 'gift', meaning 'gift of God'. Shares its elements with Dorothea in reversed order.
What does Delia mean?
Delia means “of Delos,” the island birthplace of Artemis.
Theodora vs Delia
Which is more popular?
Theodora is more popular than Delia today: about 384 US babies were given the name Theodora in 2025, compared with 135 named Delia.
| Theodora | Delia | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | gift of God | Of Delos |
| Origin | greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | thee-ə-DOR-ə | DEEL-yah |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2022 (426) | 1957 (490) |
| In 2025 | 384 | 135 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Theodora
Delia
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Theodora | Delia |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,234 | 873 |
| 2010s | 1,126 | 1,973 |
| 2000s | 447 | 2,346 |
| 1990s | 457 | 2,191 |
| 1980s | 428 | 2,213 |
| 1970s | 436 | 2,976 |
| 1960s | 715 | 3,856 |
| 1950s | 1,041 | 4,589 |
| 1940s | 1,411 | 3,213 |
| 1930s | 1,099 | 2,853 |
| 1920s | 1,597 | 2,829 |
| 1910s | 994 | 2,360 |
| 1900s | 342 | 1,629 |
| 1890s | 220 | 1,871 |
| 1880s | 107 | 1,546 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Theodora or Delia more popular?
Theodora is more popular than Delia today: about 384 US babies were given the name Theodora in 2025, compared with 135 named Delia.
What is the difference between Theodora and Delia?
Theodora means gift of God (greek origin), while Delia means Of Delos (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Theodora or Delia?
In US records, Theodora first appears in 1880 and Delia in 1880, so Theodora has the longer recorded history.