Althaea as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Althaea

What is the meaning of the name Althaea ?

The baby name Althaea is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced al-THAY-ə (IPA: /ælˈθeɪə/),al-THEE-ə (IPA: /ælˈθiːə/).

Althaea is Greek in Origin.

Althaea is a feminine name of Ancient Greek origin (Althaia/Αλθαία), tied to the verb althainein “to heal,” yielding meanings such as “healer,” “wholesome,” and “bringing cure.” In myth she is the queen of Calydon and mother of Meleager, a story retold by Ovid; in botany Althaea names the marsh-mallow plant, historically used in soothing remedies, which echoes the name’s curative sense.

Used sporadically in the classical world, the name re-entered English through Renaissance classicism, but the streamlined form Althea gained broader currency, immortalized in Richard Lovelace’s poem and later associated with tennis champion Althea Gibson. Other variants include Althaia (modern Greek transliteration), Althéa (French), and Altea (Italian and Spanish), with rare spellings like Althea. Short forms and related nicknames include Thea and Allie. Althaea blends mythic depth with a botanical lilt, while the Althea form remains the most familiar in English.