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The short answer
Dorothy is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Usual English form of Dorothea. It has been in use since the 16th century." It ranked #421 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, usual English form of Dorothea. It has been in use since the 16th century. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Dorothy ranked #421 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #421 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Dorothy in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dorothy mean?
Behind the Name does not give Dorothy a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: usual English form of Dorothea.
Is Dorothy a popular name?
Dorothy ranked #421 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Dorothy a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Dorothy appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Dorothy — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
