Saints Names, Roman Names, Christian Names, Greek Names, Latin Names, Rare Names

English speaking countries

Theodosia is a feminization of Theodosius which was first used in English in the 1600s. Theodosius was originally a Roman family name which was created from the Greek 'theos' (meaning 'god') and 'dosis' (meaning 'giving'). Until relatively recently the suffix '-dotis' was still used in the Catholic Latin Mass at the end of nouns for people who gave things. Thus the name means 'God giving' or 'giver of God', unlike names such as Dorothea, which are rooted in 'doros' ('gift') and mean 'gift of god'. After a brief increase in popularity it has mostly fallen from use since the early 20th century.