Althea

Meaning of Althea

Althea, a feminine appellation whose etymological thread runs from the ancient Greek Ἀλθέα through the Latinized Althaea, is drawn from the verb althainein, “to heal,” and thus carries an implicit promise of restoration akin to a quietly tending physician. The name first gained literary visibility in the classical canon—most memorably in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, where Althaea, mother of Meleager, wrestles with fate—before Renaissance humanists and later English poets re-introduced it to the vernacular imagination. In modern usage, the pronunciation AL-thee-uh (/æl.ˈθi.ə/) preserves its classical cadence, while cultural associations range from the hibiscus-like “Rose of Sharon,” whose late-summer blossoms echo the name’s curative symbolism, to trailblazing tennis champion Althea Gibson, whose achievements endowed the name with quiet resilience. Demographically, United States data reveal a long arc of moderate popularity: after cresting mid-century, the name ebbed, only to stabilize around the 700–800 rank in the 2010s and 2020s, suggesting a steady yet discerning parental preference. Altogether, Althea offers an intersection of mythic gravitas, botanic grace, and understated modern relevance—an eloquent choice for parents drawn to classical heritage without surrendering contemporary accessibility.