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Dorothy

♀ Girl

Pronounced DOR-oh-thee /ˈdɒr.ə.θi/High

Meaning: From Greek Dorothea, a reversal of Theodora: combining doron (gift) and theos (God), meaning gift of GodHigh

In 30 seconds: Dorothy is a radiant Greek name meaning 'gift of God' — immortalized by Judy Garland's ruby slippers and beloved for over a century of literary heroines, scientists, and visionaries.
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Origin HighGreek
MeaningFrom Greek Dorothea, a reversal of Theodora: combining doron (gift) and theos (God), meaning gift of God
U.S. rank (2025)#421 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births743 girls (0.04% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1924
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,112,222

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192418802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Dorothy is an English form of Greek Dorothea, a reversal of Theodora, both meaning gift of God from doron (gift) and theos (God). Saint Dorothea of Caesarea was martyred in 311 CE.

Dorothy reached peak popularity in the United States in the 1920s–30s. The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland as Dorothy cemented its cultural significance for generations.

Did you know? Dorothy was the number-one girls' name in the United States in 1920 and remained in the top 5 through the 1930s — making it one of the defining names of the Greatest Generation.
Overall data confidence 97%
Behind the Name — Dorothy — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

DorotheaDoraDot

Nicknames

DotDottieDory

Famous Bearers

  • ★Dorothy Gale (fictional)
    Protagonist of L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz, portrayed by Judy Garland in the iconic 1939 film.
  • ★Dorothy Parker (1893–1967)
    American poet, short story writer, and wit; co-founder of the Algonquin Round Table.

If you like Dorothy…

Eleanor— shares the grandly vintage early-20th-century British-American classic feel
Beatrice— another elegant Greek-rooted name from the same generation enjoying modern revival
Margaret— shares the same remarkable longevity and the same Greatest Generation peak
Florence— fellow Victorian-into-20th-century classic staging a strong comeback

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dorothy mean?

Dorothy means gift of God from Greek doron (gift) and theos (God), a reversal of the elements in Theodora.

How do you pronounce Dorothy?

It is said DOR-oh-thee /ˈdɒr.ə.θi/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

When was Dorothy most popular?

Dorothy was the number-one U.S. girls' name in 1920 and remained top 5 through the 1930s.

What are nicknames for Dorothy?

Classic nicknames include Dot, Dottie, and Dory.