Thekla

Thekla (Θέκλα) is a traditional Greek first name that has its origin in the ancient Greek name Theokleía (Θεοκλεία). The meaning of the name derives from the ancient Greek terms theós (θεός) for 'God' and kléos (κλέος) for 'glory, honor.' It thus stands for 'God the honor,' 'honor be to God,' or 'glory of God.'

What does the name Thekla mean?

Thekla (Θέκλα) is a historical Greek first name that has developed from the ancient Greek Theokleía (Θεοκλεία). This designation consists of the ancient Greek words theós (θεός) for 'God' and kléos (κλέος) for 'glory, honor,' and thus means 'God the honor,' 'honor be to God,' or 'glory of God.' The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages through the veneration of Saint Thekla of Iconium, who lived in the 1st century and was a holy virgin and companion of Paul. Nowadays, the first name Thekla is still present in Germany, although it is rather rare. It was particularly popular in the 19th century. Many people today also know the name from the animated series 'Maya the Bee,' where a spider is named Thekla. Variants of the name include Tecla, Tegla, Tekla, Thecla, and Thècle.

Where does the name Thekla come from?

The etymology of the name Thekla is of Greek nature and includes meanings such as 'glory of God' or 'God the honor.' The ancient Greek composition consists of theós (θεός) for God and kléos (κλέος) for glory, honor. The languages in which the name appears are Old German and German.

How do you pronounce Thekla?

The pronunciation of the name Thekla is clear and two-syllable. In German, it is usually pronounced as 'Tek-la' [ˈteːkla], starting with a long E sound that conveys a certain brightness. The emphasis is on the first syllable. The distinctive K in the middle provides a clear accent, while the open A at the end harmoniously rounds off the sound. Thekla thus radiates a strong and tradition-conscious presence - concise, factual, and at the same time warm in resonance.

When is the name day of Thekla?

The name day of Thekla, dedicated to Saint Thekla of Iconium, is celebrated on September 23 (Catholic) and September 24 (Orthodox). Other name days include June 9 (for Thekla and her companions) and October 15 (for Thekla of Kitzingen).

Popularity

In Germany, Thekla is a valued first name. Currently, it ranks 2,358th on the list of the most common female baby names. Its best placement was in 2018 when it reached 1,253rd place. Over the last ten years, Thekla has been chosen as a first name about 180 times, placing it 1,673rd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 1,799th.

Nicknames & pet names

Bibliothekla / Tetsche / Tex / Thea / Thegi / Thek / Thekchen / Theke / Thekele / Theki / Theklarantulla / Thekli / Thekno / Theks / Theli / Tiki

Similar first names

Famous people

• St. Thekla (Christian martyr and holy virgin)
• Susanna Thekla Schuster (German singer)
• Thekla (spider in Maya the Bee)
• Thekla Brun-Lie (biathlete from Norway)
• Thekla Carola Wied (German actress)
• Thekla Edenfeld (German writer)
• Thekla Kneisel (Austrian actress)
• Thekla Knös (Mexican writer)
• Thekla Krause (German football player)
• Thekla Mairhofer (German actress)
• Thekla Resvoll (American biologist)
• Thekla Reuten (Dutch actress)
• Thekla Roth (actress from England)
• Thekla Schild (German architect)
• Thekla Schneider (German writer)
• Thekla Skorra (German writer)
• Thekla Susanne Ragnhild Resvoll (Norwegian botanist)
• Thekla von Baudissin (German writer)