Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Althea
GirlGreek· “healing”
- Meaning
- healing
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- al-THEE-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,299
- US babies 2025
- 171
- Best rank
- #356 (1920)
- Peak year
- 1956
Meaning and origin of Althea
Althea is a Greek name that means “healing”.
Althea comes from the Greek althainein, to heal, and the name also belongs to the marsh mallow plant, Althaea, valued for its healing properties. In Greek mythology, Althaea was the mother of Meleager. The poet Richard Lovelace used the name in his seventeenth-century poem To Althea, from Prison. In the twentieth century, the tennis champion Althea Gibson broke barriers in the sport. The name has a graceful, vintage charm. Thea and Allie make sweet nicknames.
Popularity over time
Althea has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 93 different years. Its best national rank was #356 in 1920, and the most babies received it in 1956, when 388 were named Althea. In 2025, 171 babies were named Althea, and it ranked #1,299 nationally. That is 32% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #356 in 1920, #462 in 1950, #1,658 in 1980, #2,280 in 2000, #2,342 in 2010, and #1,299 in 2025. Of the 17,980 US girls named Althea since records began, 17% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 2,591 babies. Since 2010, 2,134 more have been named Althea.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Caren, Vickey, Sharlene, Maryanne, and Roslyn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Althea ranked highest in Oregon, Massachusetts, and Colorado.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | #628 | 5 |
| Massachusetts | #632 | 8 |
| Colorado | #711 | 7 |
| Ohio | #714 | 13 |
| Minnesota | #739 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Althea is usually pronounced al-THEE-uh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-ea”.
Middle names for Althea
A few middle names that flow with Althea: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Althea
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Lists that include Althea
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Althea mean?
Althea is a Greek name that means “healing”.
What is the origin of the name Althea?
Althea has Greek roots. Althea comes from the Greek althainein, to heal, and the name also belongs to the marsh mallow plant, Althaea, valued for its healing properties.
Is Althea a popular name?
Not especially. Althea ranked #1,299 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Althea a boy or girl name?
Althea is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Althea?
Althea is usually pronounced al-THEE-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings