Dorothy

Female name

Greek

✨ Meaning

Dorothy comes from the Greek Dorothea, built from 'doron,' meaning gift, and 'theos,' meaning god, so it reads as 'gift of God.' The same two elements appear in reverse order in Theodora and Theodore, which makes those names exact mirrors of this one. Names of this construction were common in the early Christian centuries, when parents expressed gratitude for a child directly in the naming.

🌍 Origin

Saint Dorothea of Caesarea, an early Christian martyr, carried the name into medieval Europe. Dorothy was among the most popular girls' names in Britain and the United States in the early twentieth century and then fell sharply, a pattern typical of names strongly identified with one generation. It has begun to attract interest again as vintage names return.

⭐ Famous People Named Dorothy

  • Dorothy Parker
  • Dorothy Hodgkin
  • Dorothea Lange

💫 Similar Names

Eleanor
Florence
Beatrice
Thessaly
Nora

👶 Great Sibling Names

Names that sound beautiful alongside Dorothy.

Walter
Arthur
Genesis
Albert

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Dorothy means 'gift of God,' from the Greek 'doron' (gift) and 'theos' (god).

Yes. Theodore uses the same two Greek elements in the opposite order, so the two names have identical meanings.

Dot, Dottie, Dolly and Thea are all traditional, and Thea in particular suits current naming taste.