Dorothy
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Dorothy
In the 1930s, Dorothy left Kansas and landed in the Land of Oz; by the '80s she had become a Golden Girl, living in Miami with roommates Blanche and Rose, giving her a decidedly older image. But parents today seeking a quiet classic are bringing Dorothy back—she reentered the Top 1000 in 2011 after almost completely disappearing.
Dorothy was once one of the most popular names in the US; she was in the Top 10 from 1904 to 1939, and held the Number 2 spot for eight years.
Dorothy has been used in Britain since the sixteenth century and was so common there that nickname Dolly led to the word "doll." Many Brits are reviving the cute nickname Dot or Dottie.
There are numerous worthy Dorothy namesakes, including essayist and wit Dorothy Parker; writer Dorothy L. Sayers; journalist Dorothy Thomson; social activist Dorothy Day; actresses Dorothy Gish, Dandridge, McGuire, and Lamour; and figure skater/haircut icon Dorothy Hamill. Actress Faye Dunaway was born Dorothy.
Some parents now are favoring the more flowing, romantic variant Dorothea.
Dorothy is also given to boys.
Pronounced DOR-uh-thee.
As of October 2026, Dorothy ranked #421 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #2 in 1925, Nameberry popularity #238.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #726 | 385 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #714 | 398 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #645 | 455 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #590 | 507 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #581 | 529 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #561 | 546 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #535 | 563 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #483 | 649 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #487 | 645 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #462 | 664 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #431 | 714 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #421 | 743 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Dorothy for girls
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Dorothy.
Dorothy on lists
Famous Dorothys
- Dorothy Stuart HamillGirl
American Olympic figure skater
- Dorothy DayGirl
American journalist and social activist
- Dorothy ParkerGirl
American poet and author
- Dorothy ThompsonGirl
American journalist and radio broadcaster
- Dorothy Jean DandridgeGirl
American actress
- Dorothy Hackett McGuireGirl
American actress
- Dorothy Lamour (born Mary Slaton)Girl
American actress and singer
- Dorothy Leigh SayersGirl
English novelist
- Dorothy Catherine AnstettGirl
Miss USA 1968
- Dorothy Kathleen BenhamGirl
Miss America 1977
- Dorothy Lee (born Marjorie Millsap)Girl
American actress/comedian
- Dorothy ComptonGirl
American voice actress
- (Dorothy) Faye DunawayGirl
American actress
- Dorothy Elizabeth GishGirl
American actress
- Dorothy KilgallenGirl
American journalist
- Dorothy Diane "Dedee" PfeifferGirl
American actress
- Dorothy Mary HodgkinGirl
British biochemist, winner of the Nobel Prize
- Dorothy Irene HeightGirl
American civil rights activist
- Dorothy FieldsGirl
American librettist and lyricist
- Dorothy Brower BarkleyGirl
wife of U.S. Vice President Alben W. Barkely
- Dorothy "Dodie" ClarkGirl
Youtuber
- Dorothy WangGirl
American TV personality on Rich Kids of Beverly Hills
- Dorothy Seven Gee (b. 2012)Girl
from the Bucket List Family (Travel vloggers)
- Dorothy VaughnGirl
American NASA computer programmer featured in film "Hidden Figures"
- Rose Dorothy Dauriac (b. 2014)Girl
daughter of actress Scarlett Johansson & Romain Dauriac
Dorothy in pop culture
- Dorothy GaleGirl
main character in L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz".
- Dorothy ZbornakGirl
character on TV's "Golden Girls" .
- Dorothy BoydGirl
character in movie "Jerry Maguire".
- Miss DorothyGirl
character in musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie".
- DorothyGirl
Elmo's pet goldfish on TV's "Sesame Street".
- Dorothy Jane TorkelsonGirl
character on TV's "The Torkelsons".
- DorothyGirl
character in the anime M.A.R.
- Dorothy the DinosaurGirl
character in Australian children's music group The Wiggles.
- DorothyGirl
fairy in animated TV series "Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom".
- Dorothy de VereGirl
character in Jenny Nimmo's "The Children of the Red King" series.
- "Friend of DorothyGirl
" code for a homosexual.
- Dorothy PerkinsGirl
a women’s fashion retailer based in the United Kingdom.
- Dorothy WilliamsGirl
a character from the tv show Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.
- Dorothy aka DestinyGirl
character in the 2019 film "Hustlers"