Dorothy
How to say it: DOR-uh-thee · /ˈdɔrəθi/
From Greek Dorothea, a compound of 'doron' (gift) and 'theos' (God); meaning gift of God.
Dorothy was the 426th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 743 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1920s, its births are up about 86% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #347 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #426 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 743 |
| Share of births | 1 in 4,462 |
| Peak decade | 1920s |
| Change over 10 years | +86% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #347 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Fading from a 1920s high to far below that level, Dorothy remained well used. The path ahead points to renewed growth.
What goes with it
Warm with crisp consonants and a breathy finish, Dorothy feels gentle and literary. Beatrice would pair beautifully.
Parents who love Dorothy also love
Nicknames
- Dot
- Dottie
- Dory
- Thea
Honouring a Dorothy in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Dorothy is about 1 in 186.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Greek.
England and Wales: #199.
Famous people named Dorothy
- Dorothy Hodgkin (1910–1994)British chemist
- Dorothy Parker (1893–1967)American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist
- Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957)English crime writer, playwright, essayist and Christian writer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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