Theda is a feminine given name primarily used in German-speaking countries, where it originated as a short form of Theodora. The name gained prominence beyond its native region largely due to the fame of American silent film actress Theda Bara (1885–1955), who was born Theodosia Goodman and adopted Theda as her stage name.EtymologyTheda ultimately derives from the Greek name Theodora, the feminine form of Theodore, which means "gift of god" — from Greek θεός (theos) meaning "god" and δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift".Notable BearersBesides Theda Bara, other notable bearers include Theda Ukena (1432–1494), regent of the County of East Frisia from 1466 to about 1480; Theda Skocpol (born 1947), an American sociologist and political scientist; and Theda Marshall (1925–2005), a player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Theda Funnie is a fictional character from the animated television series Doug. Several of these bearers, like Theda Bara, have a name that connects back to the longer name Theodosia or Theodora.Cultural ContextAs a short form, Theda follows a pattern of truncated names common in German, where names like Thea and Dora also serve as diminutives of Theodora. Related variants include Dora, used in Spanish and other languages, and Doreen in English.Meaning: Short form of Theodora, itself meaning "gift of god"Origin: German, from Greek elementsType: DiminutiveUsage regions: German-speaking countries, internationally via Theda Bara