Dorothy

Updated: August 30, 2021 by MomsWhoThink Staff

The baby name Dorothy has been around for a long time, but thanks to one of the most popular children's books of all time, it became very prevalent during the early 20th century. It even became the second-most popular name for baby girls in the United States for several years. Both a literary name and a “grandma” name, Dorothy fell off the charts in 2006, but it's currently making a big comeback. It comes with a variety of cute nicknames and a meaning that is special to many new parents.

Meaning of the name Dorothy:

Greek: Gift from God

Origin of the name Dorothy:

The baby name Dorothy is an English derivative of the Greek Dōrothéa. In Greek, “doron” means “gift” and “theos” means “God,” so the name translates to “gift from God.”

Symbolism of the name Dorothy:

Because the name Dorothy means “gift from God,” many religious and spiritual parents may choose the name to symbolize that they feel their new daughter is literally a gift from God or the heavens.

Style of the name Dorothy:

Traditional

Gender of the name Dorothy:

Dorothy is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Dorothy:

DOH-ruh-thee or DOHR-thee

Number of syllables in the name Dorothy:

Two or three, depending on how you pronounce it

Emotion evoked from the name Dorothy:

The name Dorothy evokes images of someone who is maternal, loving and caring.

Alternative spellings for the name Dorothy:

Dorothie
Dorothi
Doarothy

Nicknames for the name Dorothy:

Dot
Dottie
Dotty
Dora
Dolly

Popularity of the name Dorothy:

Dorothy has been a top 1,000 baby name in the United States since at least 1900. It was even a top 10 name for girls between 1904 and 1938. As of 2020, it ranks at number 534, according to the Social Security Administration.