Theda
Theda is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Gift of God.
Origin and history
Theda is a feminine given name derived as a short form of Theodora, which originates from the Greek elements meaning gift of God. It gained noticeable popularity in the United States during the early 20th century, largely influenced by silent film icon Theda Bara. In recent years, it has become a rare, classic vintage choice.
Popularity in the United States
6,556 babies in the United States have been named Theda since 1880. It ranks #2091 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2091.
States where it is most popular
- TX (13.4 %)
- PA (12.8 %)
- OK (8.8 %)
- OH (8 %)
- NY (6.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 19 |
| 1890-1900 | 42 |
| 1900-1910 | 100 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,583 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,981 |
| 1930-1940 | 936 |
| 1940-1950 | 727 |
| 1950-1960 | 599 |
| 1960-1970 | 314 |
| 1970-1980 | 135 |
| 1980-1990 | 36 |
| 1990-2000 | 39 |
| 2000-2010 | 6 |
| 2010-2019 | 29 |
| 2020-2029 | 10 |
Famous people named Theda
- Theda Bara: Actress
- Theda Skocpol: Sociologist, Political Scientist
Fun facts
- The name reached its height of public awareness through silent screen star Theda Bara, whose stage name was created in part as an anagram of 'Arab Death'.
- While historically used as an independent name, Theda originated as a short form of the classic name Theodora.