Dorothy
Dorothy is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Gift of God.
Origin and history
Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning 'gift of God'. Although overwhelmingly used as a feminine name, historical U.S. birth records show it was occasionally given to males in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its masculine usage has since become extremely rare in modern times.
Popularity in the United States
3,677 babies in the United States have been named Dorothy since 1880. It ranks #2111 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- NY (14.5 %)
- PA (12.3 %)
- TX (10.3 %)
- IL (6.9 %)
- SC (6.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 26 |
| 1900-1910 | 136 |
| 1910-1920 | 481 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,004 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,106 |
| 1940-1950 | 509 |
| 1950-1960 | 237 |
| 1960-1970 | 132 |
| 1970-1980 | 24 |
| 1980-1990 | 22 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Nicknames
Dot, Dottie
Fun facts
- While historically masculine variations like Dorotheus existed, Dorothy itself appeared periodically on male birth records in the United States around the turn of the 20th century.
- Dorothy shares its roots and precise meaning with the name Theodore, using the same Greek elements in reverse order.