Theodosia

Meaning of Theodosia

The female given name Theodosia derives from the Ancient Greek Θεοδοσία, composed of θεός (“theos,” god) and δόσις (“dosis,” giving), thus literally signifying “gift of God,” and within Anglo-American naming traditions has maintained a position of measured rarity, as evidenced by its phonetic form /θiˈɑdəsiə/ (thee-uh-DOH-zhuh) and by the twenty-eight recorded births in the United States in 2024, securing a ranking of 922 after a fluctuating presence in the national top one thousand since the late nineteenth century. A cornerstone of its cultural cachet is the nineteenth-century figure Theodosia Burr Alston, whose prominence in early Atlantic society and mysterious disappearance have drawn extensive scholarly interest, while contemporary cultural representations—most notably within American musical theatre—further attest to its enduring resonance; such associations emphasize the name’s capacity to unite theological significance, classical erudition, and uncommon refinement, rendering it an intellectually compelling choice for parents drawn to names of historical gravitas and measured rarity.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as thee-uh-DOH-zhuh (/θiˈɑdəsiə/)

• Thalia
• Dorothea
• Thea
• Theodora
• Theola
• Theona