Althea
Althea is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Wholesome, healer, or to heal.
Origin and history
Althea is a traditional female name of Greek origin derived from the word 'althos', meaning 'healing' or 'wholesome'. In Greek mythology, Althea was the queen of Calydon and mother of Meleager. The name has maintained a steady, classic presence in the U.S. over the decades without reaching the top tiers of popularity.
Popularity in the United States
17,980 babies in the United States have been named Althea since 1880. It ranks #1136 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1226.
States where it is most popular
- NY (14 %)
- PA (12.7 %)
- LA (8.7 %)
- CA (7.2 %)
- IL (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 156 |
| 1890-1900 | 323 |
| 1900-1910 | 496 |
| 1910-1920 | 2,014 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,591 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,472 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,275 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,015 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,791 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,002 |
| 1980-1990 | 592 |
| 1990-2000 | 492 |
| 2000-2010 | 627 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,160 |
| 2020-2029 | 974 |
Famous people named Althea
- Althea Gibson: Tennis Player, Golfer
Nicknames
Thea, Allie, Ali
Fun facts
- Althea gained counterculture popularity as the title and subject of a popular 1980 song by the Grateful Dead.
- Althaea is a genus of perennial herbs in the mallow family, which includes the marshmallow plant.