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Both are gorgeous.

I'm biased because this is one of my favorites and I'd definitely name a child Dorothea nn Dora. It's just so bright, warm and hopeful and shines the color gold ('dorado').

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I did grapple with the idea of Dora being too 'Dora the Explorer', but I think having a longer name to fall back on makes it easier.

Don't like either name

Dorothea is a graceful and underrated name, and Dora is cute. I think it could work as a nickname. Dotty is cute too, but it makes less sense. I also don't like Thea as a NN or otherwise, because of the THEE in it. I like the sound of Theo better. Thea sounds kind of rough for a strictly feminine name.

I've only known one Dorothea, and she was always called by her full name: not a nn in sight! I quite like the name, but I prefer Dorothy. The rhythm of Dorothea, with emphasis on the first and third syllables, doesn't please me: I prefer Antonia to Annabella, for instance.

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If I needed a nn for Dorothea, it would not be Dora. Thea or even Dottie would be much nicer. My mother had an older friend whose name was Deborah; she was always known as Dora, and it came as quite a surprise when we found out that it wasn't her full name. I couldn't choose between Debby and Dora, but I'd prefer Deborah to either of them.