Dorothy

At a Glance: Name: Dorothy – Meaning: gift of God – Origin: Greek – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: DOR-uh-thee

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Dorothy is a Greek name meaning "gift of God," pronounced DOR-uh-thee. It has a romantic, storybook, vintage feel, giving it a classic, old-fashioned charm rather than a trendy one. If you're drawn to names with a warm, timeless sound and a clear meaning behind them, Dorothy fits that mold.

Meaning & Origin of Dorothy

Meaning: Gift of god.

Origin: Greek.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Dorothy

Phonetic: DOR-uh-thee   IPA: /ˈdɔːrəθi/

Popularity of Dorothy

Dorothy soared to #2 in the U.S. in 1920, when 36,643 baby girls were given the name. By 2024 it had settled way down to #431, with just 714 girls named Dorothy that year — a long, gradual fade across the SSA's full 1880-2024 record.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Dorothy Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Dorothy, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Catherine
• Dorothea
• Ione
• Katherine
• Leontine
• Penny

FAQ

What does the name Dorothy mean?

Gift of god. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Dorothy)

How do you pronounce Dorothy?

Dorothy is pronounced DOR-uh-thee (IPA: /ˈdɔːrəθi/).

Is Dorothy a popular name right now?

Dorothy peaked at #2 in 1920 and is ranked #431 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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