Alethea
Alethea is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Truth or verity.
Origin and history
Alethea is a given name of Greek origin meaning truth or verity. It was adopted into the English-speaking world in the 16th and 17th centuries during a period of interest in classical names. In the United States, it remains an uncommon yet steadily used choice.
Popularity in the United States
4,968 babies in the United States have been named Alethea since 1880. It ranks #2475 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1685.
States where it is most popular
- CA (24.6 %)
- NY (13.3 %)
- TX (10.1 %)
- GA (7.5 %)
- IL (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 25 |
| 1900-1910 | 37 |
| 1910-1920 | 154 |
| 1920-1930 | 214 |
| 1930-1940 | 108 |
| 1940-1950 | 172 |
| 1950-1960 | 464 |
| 1960-1970 | 680 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,215 |
| 1980-1990 | 533 |
| 1990-2000 | 286 |
| 2000-2010 | 304 |
| 2010-2019 | 360 |
| 2020-2029 | 416 |
Famous people named Alethea
- Alethea McGrath: Actress
- Alethea Hayter: Author, Biographer
Nicknames
Thea, Lethia, Ali
Fun facts
- The name directly derives from the Ancient Greek word for truth, which was personified as the goddess Aletheia.
- Lady Alethea Howard, Countess of Arundel, was a prominent 17th-century English noblewoman and patron of the arts.