Dorotheos is the Greek masculine form of Dorothea, meaning "gift of god" from Greek δῶρον (doron) "gift" and θεός (theos) "god". The name is the male counterpart of Dorothea and a cognate of Theodore, which reverses the same Greek elements to mean "god's gift".
Etymology and Linguistic Variants
The earliest attestation of the root words is Mycenaean Greek do-ra "gifts", written in Linear B. Variants of the name include Latin Dorotheus, English Dorotheus, Russian Dorofei (Дорофей), and Serbian Dorotej (Доротеј).
Historical and Religious Significance
Several figures bear this name in early Christian history: Dorotheus of Sidon was a Hellenistic astrologer around 75 AD; Dorotheus of Tyre (ca. 255–362) was a Christian presbyter and later bishop of Tyre; and another Saint Dorotheus was martyred with Gorgonius. The name also appears in ancient art: Dorotheos was a 5th-century BC sculptor from Argos.
- Meaning: gift of god
- Origin: Greek
- Type: Given Name
- Usage Regions: Greece, early Christian world
Sources: Wikipedia — Dorotheus