Althea as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Althea

What is the meaning of the name Althea ?

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

Althea is Greek in Origin.

Althea is a feminine given name from the Greek Althaea (Αλθαία), related to althainein “to heal,” and to the marsh mallow plant (Althaea officinalis) valued in ancient medicine. In myth, Althaea is the mother of Meleager, embedding the name in classical lore. The core meaning centers on “healer,” “wholesome,” or “healthy,” lending the name a gentle, restorative aura.

The name entered English via Renaissance humanism and botanical Latin, appearing in parish records from the 16th–17th centuries and in literature - most famously Richard Lovelace’s poem “To Althea, from Prison” (1642). Use revived in the mid-20th century, aided by trailblazing tennis champion Althea Gibson. Established variants include Althaea (classical), Althia and Altha (Anglicized spellings), and Altea in Italian and Spanish; Thea, Ally/Allie, and Thia serve as diminutives. Sometimes conflated with Alethea (“truth”), it remains etymologically distinct. Overall, Althea blends myth, medicinal heritage, and poetic usage with a serene, healthful meaning.