Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Dorothy or Dorothea for brother Theodore

38 replies

Babynonamee · 11/04/2018 09:08

We are having a hard time agreeing on a name.

Our son is called Theodore (NN Teddy)

We like the name Dorothy for a girl.

I didn't realise the two are actually derived from the same Greek name and both mean 'gift'. I just like the name Dorothy.

Do you prefer Dorothy or Dorothea? Dor-a-thee-a
Is Dorothea too similar to Theodore?
Is Dorothy too similar to Theodore?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Buxbaum · 11/04/2018 10:52

Sorry, I think they’re both too similar. Florence and Matilda are lovely.

Original poster
Babynonamee · 11/04/2018 10:48

We like Florence And Matilda too?

Dorothy and Theodore hmmm
I didn't make the connection previously only when I looked at Wikipedia

OP posts:
Sophronia · 11/04/2018 10:39

Both are too similar

harrietm87 · 11/04/2018 10:24

Both lovely but I agree, just too similar to use either Dorothea or Dorothy.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 11/04/2018 10:19

Do you like any other names OP ?

ReversingSnail · 11/04/2018 09:40

Lovely names but too similar IMHO. What other names are you considering?

I think these could go nicely with Theodore...

Elizabeth, Jemima, Grace, Hannah, Felicity, Lucy, Alexandra, Diana, Emma.

Fridasfridgefreezer · 11/04/2018 09:14

Tabitha?

PurpleCrowbar · 11/04/2018 09:13

They're both 'gift' (the 'doro' bit) 'from God' (the 'theo' bit) so really really similar!

I'd look at some different Greek girls' names?

If you must Dorothy is a bit less obviously the same name, although I prefer Dorothea personally as it's a family name Smile.

Sorry...

Original poster
Babynonamee · 11/04/2018 09:11

I agree. If my son decides to go by Theo then Thea/ Dorothea would just be ridiculous wouldn't it! Grin

It's just a lovely name.

OP posts:
Kidslovecucumber · 11/04/2018 09:11

*likes to be called

Kidslovecucumber · 11/04/2018 09:10

I think Dorothy is fine but Dorothea too similar. Especially if later down the line Theodore like the be called Theo and Dorothea could end up Thea

ILikeMyChickenFried · 11/04/2018 09:09

I don't think I'd use either because of the similarity to Theodore

BangPippleGo · 11/04/2018 09:09

Dorothy is similar but is the better choice - Dorothea is lovely but far too similar!