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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dot

Dot

♀ Girl

Pronounced DOT /ˈdɒt/High

Meaning: A short pet form of Dorothy, from the Greek Dorothea, 'gift of God.' Used as a standalone name, Dot is small, vintage and cheerful.Medium

In 30 seconds: A tiny vintage charmer: Dot began as a nickname for Dorothy, 'gift of God' (said 'DOT'). Sweet and one-syllable.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Greek
MeaningA short pet form of Dorothy, from the Greek Dorothea, 'gift of God.' Used as a standalone name, Dot is small, vintage and cheerful.
U.S. rank (2024)#11329 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1935
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,359

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193518832024

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

Dot is a short form of Dorothy, from the Greek Dorothea, 'gift of God.' Once a common nickname, it now reads as a spunky vintage stand-alone, rare and cheerful in the U.S. (said 'DOT').

As a full name it appears only rarely in the U.S. Small, retro, and bright.

Did you know? Dot started life as a playful pet form of Dorothy, whose Greek root means 'gift of God' — now it stands cheerfully on its own (said 'DOT').
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Dot — Pet form of Dorothy, 'gift of God'

Variations

DottieDottyDorothy

Nicknames

DottieDodie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Dot…

Dottie— the fuller pet form Dot springs from
Pearl— a like tiny vintage pick
June— a like short retro name
Vera— a like old-fashioned charmer

Explore names like Dot

By themeshortvintagenicknamecheerful
By meaningGod / DivineJoyGift / Blessing

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dot mean?

Dot is a pet form of Dorothy, from the Greek for 'gift of God.'

How do you pronounce Dot?

It's said DOT /ˈdɒt/ — one syllable.

Is Dot a boy or girl name?

Dot is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Dot?

Dot is rare as a full name in the U.S. today.

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