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Althea

♀ Girl

Pronounced al-THEE-ah /ælˈθiː.ə/Low

Meaning: Healing, wholesome, one who healsLow

In 30 seconds: Althea is a beautiful Greek name meaning healing or wholesome, from the same root as the mallow plant used in ancient medicine. In Greek mythology, Althea was the mother of the hero Meleager.
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Origin LowGreek
MeaningHealing, wholesome, one who heals
U.S. rank (2024)#1396 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births160 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1956
Total births (all-time)≈ 17,807

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195618802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Althea derives from the Greek altho meaning to heal or to be wholesome. In Greek mythology, Althea was the mother of Meleager, the hero of the Calydonian Boar Hunt. The mallow plant genus Althaea was used medicinally in antiquity.

Althea is a rare and elegant name in English-speaking countries, associated with the famous tennis player Althea Gibson. Its three syllables and Greek heritage give it a distinctive, timeless quality.

Did you know? The hollyhock plant shares the same Greek altho root as Althea meaning to heal. Both the plant and the name evoke the gentle restorative power of nature and ancient botanical medicine.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Althea

Variations

AlthaAlthaiaAltheya

Nicknames

AlthieAllieThea

Famous Bearers

  • ★Althea Gibson (1927-2003)
    American tennis player, the first Black athlete to win a Grand Slam title (1956)

If you like Althea…

Thea— Short form sharing same Greek healing root
Calliope— Greek mythological name of same classical elegance
Ariadne— Greek myth heroine name of same ancient depth
Phoebe— Greek goddess name with same timeless appeal

Frequently Asked

What does Althea mean?

Althea means healing or wholesome from the Greek altho, the same root as the medicinal mallow plant.

Who was Althea in mythology?

In Greek mythology Althea was the mother of Meleager, hero of the Calydonian Boar Hunt.

How do you pronounce Althea?

Althea is pronounced al-THEE-ah with three syllables.

What names are similar to Althea?

Similar Greek names include Thea, Phoebe, and Ariadne.