Dorothy

“God's gift” — Greek origin

Girl's name · #421 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Dorothy was #2 in 1920, slipped to #1117, and is currently back at #421. It has spent 26 years inside the national top 5. Dorothy's short forms are Dora, Dolly, Dottie, Dodie, and Dot.

Around the world: about 1 in 1,000 girls in England & Wales (2025) · about 1 in 1,000 girls in N. Ireland (2025) · about 1 in 2,700 girls in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 40 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Dorothys

Dorothy Hodgkin — British chemist
Dorothy Parker — American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist (1893-1967)
Dorothy Malone — American actress (1924-2018)
Dorothy L. Sayers — English crime writer, playwright, essayist and Christian writer (1893-1957)
Dorothy Day — American journalist, social activist, and Catholic convert (1897-1980)

In stories & tradition

Dorothy Gale — The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Dorothy Catalonia — Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
Dorothy Zbornak — The Golden Girls

What Dorothys become

Among 1,619 notable people named Dorothy:

Artists & writers appear 1.73× more often than among typical names — e.g. Dorothy Parker, American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist (1893-1967).

Similar names: Dorothea · Elaine · Doris · Lottie · Penny · Margo

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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