Given name
Theda
“gift of God”
Theda is a variant of Theodora. In Greek use, Theodora carries the interpretation “gift of God.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Theda is a variant of Theodora. In Greek use, Theodora carries the interpretation “gift of God.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Theda connects to the Theodore name family through Theodora. Theodore reached English through French from the Greek name Theodoros.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Theda is a short form of Theodegunde. Theda connects to the Theodore name family through Theodora. The shared background comes through Theodore: Theodore’s Greek elements are theos, meaning “god,” and doron, meaning “gift.” French forms provided the route into English.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
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. Theda connects to the Theodore name family through Theodora. The history of Theodore gives this family its wider story. Theodore was popular among early Christians and was borne by several saints. That religious history helps explain the name’s spread into different European forms.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Theda through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,556
- 0 boys · 6,556 girls
- Most popular year
- 1919
- 356 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2021. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 356 in 1919. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,031 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.
Theda’s family of names
Theda is a short form of Theodegunde. Theda has a related form in Theodora. In German usage, Theda has a conventional equivalent in the English form Theodora.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Theda
- Theda BaraAmerican actress (1885–1955)
- Theda SkocpolAmerican sociologist and political scientistborn 1947
- Theda UkenaEast Frisian countess by marriage and later regent of East Frisia (1432-1494)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Theda, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Eda
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“a peaceful ruler” · “peaceful friend”
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