In Greek mythology, Althea was the mother of Meleager, a hero who was famous for hunting the Calydonian Boar. According to the myth, Althea was a skilled healer, which is where the name's meaning comes from.
The name Althea has origins in Greek mythology. Althea means "healer." Other meanings of the name include "wholesome" and "healing power.". From the Greek name Ἀλθαία (Althaia), perhaps related to Greek ἄλθος (althos) meaning "healing". In Greek myth she was the mother of Meleager. Soon after her son was born she was told that he would die as soon as a piece of wood that was burning on her fire was fully consumed. She immediately extinguished the piece of wood and sealed it in a chest, but in a fit of rage many years later she took it out and set it alight, thereby killing her son. Althea is used as a first name for baby girls.
Derived from the Greek name Althaea, the mother of the hero Meleager in Greek mythology. The name became better known in the late 70s when the Jamaican reggae duo Althea & Donna released their number 1 hit ‘Uptown Top Ranking’.