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.
Related names for the name Dorothy:
Great middle names for Dorothy and their meanings:
- Hannah (grace)
- Elizabeth (promised to God)
- Mae (pearl)
- Eve (life)
- Ruth (compassionate friend)
- Kate (pure)
- Rebecca (tie, bind)
- Rose (flower)
- Ophelia (help)
Famous people with the name Dorothy:
- Dorothy Hamill (ice skater)
- Dorothy Appleby (actress)
- Dorothy Dandridge (actress and singer)
- Dorothy Gish (actress)
- Dorothy Bush Koch (daughter of President George Herbert Walker Bush)
- Dorothy Parker (writer)
Dorothys in popular culture:
- Dorothy(character from the book and movie “The Wizard of Oz”)
- Dorothy Zbornak (character on the TV show “The Golden Girls”)
- Dorothy (Elmo's pet goldfish in the “Sesame Street” franchise)
- Dorothy “Dot” Branning (character on the TV show “EastEnders”)
- Dorothy Michaels (character in the movie “Tootsie”)