Thera first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Thera has been for the last 48 years (from 1974 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Thera

Feminine form of Greek "Therapon" meaning "attendant" or "servant".

Popularity of Thera by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Thera is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Thera.

Year Male Count Female Count
2021 0 6
2020 0 5
2019 0 7
2014 0 5
1999 0 5
1994 0 5
1990 0 9
1989 0 10
1988 0 5
1987 0 15
1986 0 12
1985 0 28
1984 0 27
1983 0 28
1982 0 31
1981 0 11
1980 0 16
1979 0 13
1978 0 10
1977 0 14
1976 0 7
1975 0 11
1974 0 5

The history of the first name Thera

The name Thera has its origins in ancient Greece, derived from the Greek word "theros," meaning "summer." It is believed to have been used as a name for girls born during the summer months or as a reference to the Greek island of Thera, now known as Santorini.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Thera can be found in Greek mythology. Thera was the name of a nymph who was one of the daughters of Oceanus and Tethys. She was also associated with the island of Thera, which was said to have been named after her.

In ancient Greek literature, the name Thera appears in various texts, including the works of Homer and Hesiod. It is also mentioned in historical records from the classical period, suggesting that it was a name used by Greek families during that time.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Thera was Thera of Crete, a Greek priestess who lived in the 6th century BCE. She was renowned for her wisdom and was believed to have been a seer and oracle.

During the Byzantine era, the name Thera remained in use, particularly among Greek Orthodox Christians. One notable figure was Thera of Constantinople, a 9th-century Byzantine abbess and saint who founded the Convent of Christ Philanthropos in Constantinople.

In more recent times, the name Thera has been less common, but there are a few notable individuals who have borne it. Thera Hildebrand (1901-1980) was a German stage and film actress who appeared in numerous productions during the 1920s and 1930s.

Another notable individual was Thera van Oossanen (1923-2004), a Dutch painter and sculptor known for her abstract and surrealist works. She was a prominent figure in the Dutch art scene during the latter half of the 20th century.

Finally, Thera Connick (born 1976) is an American jazz singer and daughter of renowned musician Harry Connick Jr. She has released several albums and has performed alongside her father on numerous occasions.

While the name Thera may not be as widely used today as it was in ancient times, it remains a unique and historically significant name with roots in Greek culture and mythology.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Thera was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Thera, please contact us.

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"Thera first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 14, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/thera-meaning-and-history/.

"Thera first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/thera-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 14 May, 2025

Thera first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/thera-meaning-and-history/.

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