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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dorette

Dorette

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Dorette

Pronounced daw-RET /dɔːˈrɛt/Low

Meaning: Dorette is a French diminutive of Dora or Dorothea, adding the fond -ette ending to a name rooted in the Greek doron, 'gift.' Dorothea means 'gift of God,' so Dorette carries that same giving sense in a smaller, prettier package.Medium

In 30 seconds: Dorette is a French pet form of Dora or Dorothea, from Greek doron 'gift.' It appears in mid-century US records (said daw-RET).
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Origin LowFrench, Greek
MeaningDorette is a French diminutive of Dora or Dorothea, adding the fond -ette ending to a name rooted in the Greek doron, 'gift.' Dorothea means 'gift of God,' so Dorette carries that same giving sense in a smaller, prettier package.
U.S. rank (1976)#9692 ↘ Falling
1976 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1954
Total births (all-time)≈ 273

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195419231976

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dorette is a French-flavored diminutive of Dora or Dorothea, whose root is the Greek doron, 'gift' (Dorothea, 'gift of God'). The -ette suffix marks affection and smallness. It appears in US records around the mid-twentieth century as a delicate, French-styled alternative to the plainer Dora.

It was never common, given to only about fifteen girls a year even at its peak around 1954, and it stayed rare throughout. A girl named Dorette then is in her early seventies today.

Did you know? The -ette ending that makes Dorette also gave French names like Ninette and Cosette; on Dorothea it works exactly like Dot or Dottie did in English, only daintier.
Overall data confidence 50%
References - Dorette — French diminutive of Dora/Dorothea; Greek doron 'gift'; -ette suffix; moderate confidence.

Variations

DorettaDoraDorothea

Nicknames

DoraDotRette

Famous Bearers

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If you like Dorette…

Doretta— the fuller -etta form of the same pet name
Dorothea— the parent name meaning 'gift of God'
Cosette— a like French -ette girl's name
Ninette— another dainty French diminutive of similar sound

Explore names like Dorette

By themevintagefrenchfemininediminutive

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dorette mean?

It is a French diminutive of Dora or Dorothea, from the Greek doron, 'gift' (Dorothea, 'gift of God').

How do you pronounce Dorette?

It is said daw-RET /dɔːˈrɛt/ - two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Dorette a boy or girl name?

Dorette is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Dorette?

It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year even at its peak in the nineteen-fifties.

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