Theodora

Theodora is the feminine form of the Greek name Theodoros, composed of the elements theos, meaning god, and doron, meaning gift, giving the overall sense of gift of god. The name was borne by several early Christian saints and by Theodora, the influential sixth-century Byzantine empress and wife of Justinian I, whose political acumen made her one of the most powerful women in late antiquity. The name has been used across Europe throughout the Christian era and remains current in English, Greek, French, and Scandinavian traditions. Related forms include Teodora, Dorothy, and the masculine Theodoros and Theodore.