Efthalia is a female Greek name, which derives from the Greek words “ef” and “thalo”, which mean good and blossom respectively. Therefore, Efthalia means the rich and blooming one.
Name Efthalia is not as common as it used to be in Greece. There is something interesting here: although the name is Christian, its main diminutive (Thalia) existed in the ancient years, as a main female name. Thalia today is just the diminutive of Efthalia.
Sound of name Efthalia: Ef- tha-leé-ah
Male Version of Efthalia: Efthalios (not in use)
Nameday of Efthalia: March 2
Origin of name Efthalia – Agia Efthalia (St Efthalia)
Name Efthalia refers to a woman who lived in Sicily. Efthalia had a mother with the same name, who one day started bleeding due to a disease. Her mother, Efthalia senior, saw a dream with the Holy Martyrs Alfeios, Kyprinos and Philadelphos, who told her that if she believed in Christ, she should be baptized and then she would be saved from her illness.
When the mother woke up, she was persuaded by the words of the Holy Martyrs. So, along with her daughter Efthalia, they were baptized Christians. Her son Sermilianos, almost killed her with his bare hands, when he learned that his mother was a Christian. Efthalia escaped death with the help of a maid.
The daughter argued with her brother, who became even angrier. He beat his mother and afterwards he handed her over to a servant to rape her. Efthalia (the daugher) prayed and had the servant blinded. When the brother saw the event, he decapitated his sister.
Efthalia was declared a martyr and a Saint from the Christian Church, that celebrates the nameday of Efthalia on March 2nd.
Nicknames deriving from name Efthalia
The most common nickname of Efthalia is Thalia, but there are also more nicknames and diminutives, such as Lia, Efi, Thalo, Litsa.
The Names’ Fairy reveals the meaning of name Efthalia
Efthalia is serious, smart, studious and is distinguished for her performance in Literature and Arts. She gets married very young, and although loves her husband and her children, she yearns for independence.