A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Dollie since 1880
Babies named Dollie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Dollie's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,063 |
| 1890s | 1,546 |
| 1900s | 1,907 |
| 1910s | 3,288 |
| 1920s | 3,891 |
| 1930s | 2,828 |
| 1940s | 2,034 |
| 1950s | 1,341 |
| 1960s | 626 |
| 1970s | 314 |
| 1980s | 194 |
| 1990s | 73 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 53 |
| 2020s | 74 |
Meaning & origin
Dollie, a diminutive of Dorothy meaning 'gift of God', saw its peak popularity in 1881, the year it reached its highest rank. After a long decline, the name has been rising again since 2009, reflecting a revival of vintage names from the 1880s. Though it is currently quite rare, ranking 7,885 in 2025 with about 1 in 123,636 births, its recent trajectory suggests a slow comeback. The spelling 'Dollie' remains distinct from the more common 'Dolly', both sharing the same affectionate origin.
Dollie originated as a pet form of Dorothy, which comes from Greek Dorothea, meaning 'gift of God'. It was especially popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an independent given name, often spelled Dollie or Dolly. The name's association with the word 'doll' gave it a playful, affectionate quality.
Where Dollie is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Dollie” around the world
Where Dollie lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dol, Dolly
Variants: Dolly
Sibling names for Dollie
Names that share Dollie's style, for a brother or sister.
