Holding steady.
Popularity of Dorethea since 1912
Babies named Dorethea per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1956, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Dorethea's real moment was 1932.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 89 |
| 1920s | 179 |
| 1930s | 176 |
| 1940s | 144 |
| 1950s | 225 |
| 1960s | 167 |
| 1970s | 55 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Dorethea, a variant spelling of Dorothea, was first recorded in the United States in 1912. The name reached its peak popularity in 1932, during the decade of the 1930s. Although it never ranked in the top 1000 nationally, its usage remained stable over the years. The spelling Dorethea reflects an American tendency toward phonetic simplification, similar to other Dorothea variants like Dortha. As of 2025, the name is rarely used but retains a classic, vintage charm associated with the early 20th century.
Dorethea is a variant spelling of Dorothea, derived from the Greek elements "doron" meaning "gift" and "theos" meaning "god." The name was borne by several early Christian saints and became common in England after the Protestant Reformation. The spelling Dorethea emerged as a less frequent variant, particularly in the United States during the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dora, Thea, Dot, Dottie
Sibling names for Dorethea
Names that share Dorethea's style, for a brother or sister.
