Dorothy
Dorothy: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdɒɹ.ə.θi/ · /ˈdɔɹ.ə.θi/
Meaning and origin of Dorothy
- A female given name from Ancient Greek.
Etymology
Ancient Greek δῶρον (dôron) Ancient Greek θεά (theá) Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Δωροθέα (Dōrothéa).
How popular is Dorothy?
Since 1880, 1,112,231 girls and 3,677 boys in the U.S. have been named Dorothy (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2 in 1920. Its highest rank for boys was #479 in 1931. In 2025 it ranked #421 for girls, with 743 babies given the name.
Names similar to Dorothy
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Greek girl names
Sibling name ideas for Dorothy
Sister and brother names that share Dorothy's Greek roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Dorothy FAQ
What does the name Dorothy mean?
A female given name from Ancient Greek. Ancient Greek δῶρον (dôron) Ancient Greek θεά (theá) Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Δωροθέα (Dōrothéa).
What is the origin of the name Dorothy?
Dorothy is listed as a name of Greek origin.
How popular is the name Dorothy?
Since 1880, 1,112,231 girls and 3,677 boys in the U.S. have been named Dorothy (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2 in 1920. Its highest rank for boys was #479 in 1931. In 2025 it ranked #421 for girls, with 743 babies given the name.
Is Dorothy a boy or girl name?
Dorothy is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 1,112,231 girls and 3,677 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.