Entry № 1539 · Greek origin

Dorothy Dorothy — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ DOR-uh-thee /

Gender

Girl

Origin

Greek

Meaning

"Gift of God"

Syllables

Rank · US 2025

№ 487

First recorded

Ancient (Greek)

The meaning

A name that means "gift of god".

Dorothy comes from the Greek Dōrothea (Δωροθέα) — dōron (gift) and theos (god) — meaning "gift of God." Theodora has the same elements in reverse.

Dorothy was the second most popular U.S. girls' name from 1925 to 1929. Dorothy Gale in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) is the most enduring fictional bearer. Today Dorothy is returning, sitting in the U.S. top 500 and climbing fast.

Gift of God. Dorothy Gale of Oz.

In its original form

The name in its native script.

Δωροθέα

Transliteration: Dōrothéa
Pronunciation: / ˈdɒr.ə.θi /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Dorothy stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 487 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 2 in 1925

Babies named Dorothy · last year

612 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

1880

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Dorothys before her.

Real people

Dorothy Parker

American writer and poet of the Algonquin Round Table.

1893 – 1967

Dorothy Day

American journalist and social activist.

1897 – 1980

In fiction

Dorothy Gale

Heroine of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

1900 novel

Names connected to Dorothy.

Numerology

The number behind Dorothy.

The Seeker

Dorothy reduces to seven — the number of given grace.

Parents on Dorothy

Why families chose this name.

"There's no place like home. The film raised me. Dorothy raised our daughter."

Hannah · Mother of one · Topeka