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I prefer Dorothea because it's more brocaded and Victorian. However, I adore Theodora's brassy sophistication.

Dorothea

Dorothea

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It sounds so much more romantic than Theodora, which just clunks.

This might come down to sound. When I say them, Theodora has a definite door in it, but the first o in Dorothea is short and the second is a schwa.

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I knew a Dorothea at school who was never known by any nn at all; and now I know a Theodora who hates it with a passion and is universally known as Theo.

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On balance, then, it's Dorothea for me.

Dorothea

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Dorothea

Dorothea

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I really love both: the sound, meaning, etc.

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If I were to use one it would be Dorothea. It's softer and just more feminine to me.

I really enjoy both, but I'd have to give the edge to Theodora.

Theodora

Dorothea

Dorothea

Theodora

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It's just prettier :)

I much prefer Theodora. It's more interesting I like Teddy as a nickname.

Theodora: An Inch Above

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The question which you have posed basically equals "Do you prefer water or air?" in my mind... both of which means death if we cannot have both.
Dorothea seems to fit a rather small range of girls, whereas I think that Theodora is a bit more cosmopolitan.

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In other words, Theodora wins this round.

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- Francesca

This message was edited 2/14/2012, 12:35 PM

Dorothea.

It's funny. I adore Thea and you'd think I'd automatically prefer Dorothea yet there's something about Theodora that flows better to my way of thinking. It seems less clunky. Mind you, I like Dorothea very much so I'm not saying it's a bad name at all. I suppose Theodora seems more chic and Dorothea seems a little more staid.

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ETA the main reason why I prefer Theodora. It just hit me. Dorothy has always seems dated and dull to me and when I hear Dorothea, it's like hearing Dorothy until the very last syllable. IOW, I don't really care for it until the very end. With Theodora, it's melodic all the way. :-)

This message was edited 2/14/2012, 11:42 AM

Theodora

Theodora for a non-Greek girl and Dorothea for a Greek girl. I know, it doesn't make any sense, I just dislike hearing/seeing Theodora in Greek and I don't like how Dorothea sounds in English.

I like them both. I have a hard time deciding, but at the moment I will say Dorothea, that could change tomorrow.

Theodora. It's gorgeous, and one of my favorite names. Dorothea is pretty, and it lends itself to the lovely nickname Thea, but I prefer the sound of Theodora.

Dorothea, because i strongly dislike Theo

Dorothea!

Theodora.

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I prefer the look and sound. I don't like Dorothy, so Dorothea reminds me too much of that sound. I like the "The-" sound at the beginning; it's softer and more mature. The "Doro-" sound is either immature or dowdy for me (even though I like shorter Dor- names like Dora).

If I didn't know a Dorothy, I'd pick Dorothea. I find it much friendlier and I prefer it. But since I do know a Dorothy, I'd pick Theodora in real life.

Dorothea.

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The odor in Theodora bothers me a bit, and I feel similarly about it to, say, Eugenia and Augustina (I notice the male name in it too much, and the A seems tacked on). Dorothea (the way I say it) also has more stress on the first syllable, which might be why it sounds more substantial to me. I like Theodora with Thora or Theda as a nickname, but the full name feels a little too daintified for my taste. That's not to say I don't think it's a pretty name - just nms compared to Dorothea.

This message was edited 2/14/2012, 8:55 AM

Theodora

Love both

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Dorothea is slightly growing on me because of the Dorothy Ethel post and I said I would prefer Dorothea

It would be like asking me to choose between two pieces of music that I love. It's very difficult, though ultimately, I'd pick Theodora, as it is a family name.

Dorothea

I prefer Dorothea.