Dorothea

[RTchoke]

We have recently found out we are expecting DC3 and this is my last chance to persuade DH to use the name Dorothea. I love it, always have but he vetoed it for 1 and 2. I love the full name but also love the nicknames Dora, Thea and Dotty.

The name also has a special meaning for me because my late mother's last letter to me encouraged me to "nurture the Dorothea in yourself and shun the Rosamund" (reference to the characters in Middlemarch).

What is the general consensus? Would a little Dorothea get teased?

It's a great name,with a lot of wonderful nicknames you could use.I'd go for it.

Lovely, go for it. Not that common, pretty shortenings and lovely link with your late mum.

It's very nice, underused and obviously has a lovely special meaning for you. Personally I'd go for Dorothy as it's simpler and I don't like Thea. However if you love Dorothea and you like all the nicknames too, then go for it!

I love it.

It's on our shortlist but DH has issues over the pronounciation (we are non UK) so has veto-ed

Ooh I love it!

I love it! I think it's the name of Jon Bon Jovi's wife - that's the only one I know of. It's great because it has cutesy nicknames for childhood but is lovely as an adult.

It's the name of a quarry local to me- There's a lake where lots of divers get into trouble and die, so it would be no for me...
But that letter from your mother. How absolutely lovely and touching. I have tears in my eyes. She sounds like a wonderful woman. If I had that connection to a name, I would use it. And the idea of you passing something on to your daughter that came from your mother...

It's a lovely name. I knew a German Dorothea (so Doro-taya) with the nn Doro, which I think is very sweet. The connection with your mother makes the name extra special.

I am so pleased and surprised at the positive reactions so far. I thought I'd get loads of people saying it's an old lady's name.

I was going to say that I like it but prefer Dorothy (lifelong Wizard of Oz fan!) but after reading that Dorothea has a special meaning for you, I say go for it.

I would use the nickname Dolly.

I can only imagine the German version ( doro- taya), So is it pronounced 'door- thee-a'? I kinda like it :)

Really like it OP the link with your mum is lovely.

I like it - I instantly think of Mrs bon jovi but its a nice name and a lovely connection for you :)

Sorry to be the voice of dissent but I think it is dreadful and the nicknames are not much better. I am really not trying to be unkind but I couldn't leave this thread with entirely positive feedback because I don't think that would be representative of the population.

There is a small town in Lapland called Dorotea, it's beautiful.

Oh you must call your daughter Dorothea. A lovely name (with great nicknames) but the Middlemarch connection seals it for me. The best female character in any book. Your mum is completely right : )

Much prefer Dorothea to Dorothy.

The quote from your Mum's letter gave me a tear in my eye. What better reason could there be than this, a link from your mother, to you, to your daughter. Sentimental connection, literary connection. Your daughter must be called Dorothea!
(My favourite shortening is Thea)

Aaarghh, so frustrated, just showed DH all the positive reactions on this thread and he still insists that people will laugh at a little Dorothea. Yet he likes Linus or Aneurin for a boy. Now I don't mind Linus but cannot see how a Dorothea is more likely to be laughed at than a Linus or a Aneurin.

Linus is kind of cool in a geek chic way.
Aneurin is gruesome (apologies to your husband).

Keep battling for Dorothea if it's a girl. I really don't think people would laugh. These days 'old lady' names are very much the norm. Think of all the little Elsies, Florences, Pearls, and Beatrices there are toddling around.

I totally agree with you on Aneurin - utterly gruesome although I quite like the shortening Nye.

Well I know a Dorothea and she isn't laughed at. And anyway, can't you just call her Thea for short?

Your husband sounds a bit small-minded too be honest (sorry).

Has he read Middlemarch? Maybe say he has to read it first before he can have an opinion on Dorothea

Kids get bullied for a lot of reasons- but in my experience if they are going to get bullied, the bullies will pick a rationale rather than a reason. Plenty of fat kids get bullied for example, but plenty do not. Worrying about what the under 15 year old crowd will make of a name is no good reason for rejecting it (unless there is an unfortunate joke in the name or something). Go for it if you love it! (I think its lovely btw!)

Adore it!

forgot to say... love your mums letter .

tell dh that what mn goes!