Thecle / Tekla

The name Thecle (also spelled Thekla or Thecla) is derived from the Ancient Greek name Theokleia (Θεόκλεια), meaning 'glory of God' from the elements 'theos' (θεός) meaning 'god' and 'kleos' (κλέος) meaning 'glory'. It is most famously associated with Saint Thecla, an early Christian saint from the 1st century AD. According to the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla, she was a virgin martyr who was a disciple of Saint Paul. Her story describes her enduring numerous trials and persecutions, including being thrown to wild beasts, but miraculously surviving them all.

Saint Thecla became a highly revered figure in early Christianity, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church, where she is considered the 'protomartyr among women' and an equal to the apostles. Her cult spread widely, and she was venerated in both the East and the West. The name has been used consistently, though not always widely, throughout Christian history, particularly in regions with strong Orthodox traditions.