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Thecla

♀ Girl

Pronounced THEK-lah /ˈθɛk.lə/Medium

Meaning: Thecla derives from the ancient Greek Theokleia, combining theos, 'god,' and kleos, 'glory, fame,' giving the sense 'glory of God' or 'God's fame.' It was borne by the first-century Saint Thecla of Iconium, a companion of the Apostle Paul in the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla.Medium

In 30 seconds: Thecla is an ancient Greek name meaning 'glory of God,' carried by an early Christian saint. It appeared quietly in the United States, peaking early around 1917 at about 18 girls a year (said THEK-lah).

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Origin MediumGreek

MeaningThecla derives from the ancient Greek Theokleia, combining theos, 'god,' and kleos, 'glory, fame,' giving the sense 'glory of God' or 'God's fame.' It was borne by the first-century Saint Thecla of Iconium, a companion of the Apostle Paul in the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla.

U.S. rank (1986)#12696 ↘ Falling

1986 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1917

Total births (all-time)≈ 281

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Thecla comes from the ancient Greek Theokleia, joining theos, 'god,' with kleos, 'glory,' for a meaning of 'glory of God.' It carries real historical depth as the name of an early Christian saint, Thecla of Iconium, whose story in the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla made her one of the most widely venerated women of the early church.

In American records the name stayed rare, given to about 18 girls a year at its early peak in 1917, but it had an unusually long tail, appearing in the SSA data all the way from 1888 to 1986, likely sustained by ongoing Catholic and Orthodox devotional naming. A girl named Thecla at her peak would be well over a century old today.

Did you know? Saint Thecla was a first-century follower of the Apostle Paul whose story, told in an early Christian text, made her one of the most venerated women saints of the ancient church, especially in the Eastern Orthodox and Coptic traditions.

Overall data confidence 72%

References - Thecla — Greek Theokleia, 'glory of God'; Saint Thecla of Iconium, Acts of Paul and Thecla

Variations

TheklaTeclaTekla

Nicknames

TeclaTess

Famous Bearers

★Thecla of Iconium (1st century (traditional))
Early Christian saint and, per the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla, a follower of the Apostle Paul; venerated especially in Eastern Orthodox and Coptic tradition.

If you like Thecla…

Theodora— shares the theos 'God' root element

Eulalia— another early Christian Greek saint's name of similar vintage

Dorla— shares Thecla's Greek roots

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Thecla mean?

It comes from the ancient Greek Theokleia, meaning 'glory of God,' from theos 'god' and kleos 'glory.'

How do you pronounce Thecla?

It is said THEK-lah /ˈθɛk.lə/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Thecla a boy or girl name?

Thecla is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Thecla?

It was always rare in the United States, given to about 18 girls a year at its 1917 peak, with occasional use continuing into the 1980s.