Given name
Althea
“possessing the power to heal; wholesome”
Althea is used as a given name. One Greek interpretation is “possessing the power to heal; wholesome.” Its derivation is not certain.
Original Ancient GreekἈλθαία
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Greek interpretation is “possessing the power to heal; wholesome.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
In English usage, Althea developed from Ἀλθαία.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Althea through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 17,985
- 5 boys · 17,980 girls
- Most popular year
- 1956
- 388 babies
- 2025
- 171
- #1,299 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +7%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 171 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,299 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 6.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 388 in 1956. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (15). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,948 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Althea’s family of names
In English usage, Althea developed from the Ancient Greek form Ἀλθαία. Althea has a related form in Altha. Althea has a related form in Althia.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Althea
- Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)
- Louise BroughAmerican tennis player (1923–2014)
- Althea ReinhardtDanish handball playerborn 1996
- Althea FlyntMagazine publisher (1953–1987)
- Althea ShermanAmerican ornithologist, artist and educator (1853–1943)
- Althea GarrisonAmerican politicianborn 1940
- Althea HenleyAmerican film actress (1911-1996)
- Althea GylesGyles, Margaret Alethea [known as Althea Gyles] (1868–1949), artist and poet1867–1949
- Althea Warrendirector of the Los Angeles Public Library, president of the American Library Association1866–1958
Characters named Althea: Blind Al (Marvel Comics character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Althea, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Panthea
“of the gods and goddesses”
>99% girls
Cynthia
Cynthia is a feminine given name from Latin, ultimately from Ancient Greek. It is used in English, Tagalog, Indonesian, Cebuano, and 1 other language.
>99% girls
Karen
“one who is pure; virginal” · “one who is pure; chaste”
1% boys · 99% girls
Pandora
>99% girls
Theresa
“a harvester”
>99% girls
Kathryn
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Myra
“resembling the fragrant oil”
>99% girls
Sandra
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% girls