Dorothy
A girls’ name of Greek origin, meaning gift of God.
How Dorothy has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #714 |
| 2016 | #646 |
| 2017 | #589 |
| 2018 | #585 |
| 2019 | #561 |
| 2020 | #533 |
| 2021 | #482 |
| 2022 | #487 |
| 2023 | #467 |
| 2024 | #431 |
| 2025 | #421 |
Dorothy by the numbers
In 2025, 253 babies in England and Wales were named Dorothy. In the US, 498 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in England and Wales than in the US.
Its American peak was 39,997 babies in 1924, so it is a 1920s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1925, about 1 in 33 American girls born that year was called Dorothy.
Names that come from Dorothy
Forms of Dorothy in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Dottiegift of god; a form of Dorothy or Dorothea215 in England and Wales (2025)
- Dollygift of god; a form of Dorothy144 in England and Wales (2025)
- Dolliedoll; a diminutive of Dorothy or Dolores55 in England and Wales (2025)
- Dottygift of god; a form of Dorothy27 in England and Wales (2025)
- Dollie-Raegift; a form of Dorothy with Rae6 in England and Wales (2025)
- Dottie-Raegift of God; a form of Dorothy with Rae6 in England and Wales (2025)
- Dollie-Annegift of god; a form of Dorothy with Anne4 in England and Wales (2025)
- Dolly-Suegift of god; a form of Dorothy with Sue4 in England and Wales (2025)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Dorothy. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Other names that mean a gift
Like Dorothy, each of these has a gift in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Kennedymisshapen head; an Irish surname used as given name4,277 in the US (2017)
- Peytonfrom Paega's town; an English place name used as given name4,236 in the US (2017)
- Kinsleyfrom the king's meadow; an English place name used as given name4,048 in the US (2017)
- Mackenzieson of the fair one; surname used as given name2,976 in the US (2017)
- Jasminejasmine flower; gift from god455 in England and Wales (2025)
- Jessegod exists; gift from god980 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean God
Like Dorothy, each of these has God in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Isabellapledged to God15,112 in the US (2017)
- Elizabethmy God is an oath8,924 in the US (2017)
- Angelmessenger of God6,157 in the US (2017)
- Auroradawn; Roman goddess of sunrise1,030 in England and Wales (2025)
- SamanthaGod has heard; feminine form of Samuel4,308 in the US (2017)
- Micahwho is like God3,924 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Dorothy
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