A 1950s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Doretta since 1888
Babies named Doretta per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 53 |
| 1900s | 72 |
| 1910s | 186 |
| 1920s | 321 |
| 1930s | 330 |
| 1940s | 322 |
| 1950s | 741 |
| 1960s | 347 |
| 1970s | 129 |
| 1980s | 46 |
| 1990s | 24 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 16 |
Meaning & origin
Doretta is a delicate Italianate variant that reached its peak popularity in 1953, when it was most frequently given to newborn girls in the United States. Although the name has never broken into the top 1000 nationally in recent decades, it has shown signs of renewed interest since 2020, according to Social Security data. The name's trajectory since that year has been rising, hinting at a possible revival among parents drawn to vintage, lyrical names ending in -etta. Doretta first appeared in recorded U.S. naming data in 1888, and its enduring charm lies in its connection to the classic Dorothy, meaning 'gift of God'.
Doretta is an Italianate diminutive of Dora, which itself is a short form of Dorothy. Dorothy derives from the Greek name Dorothea, composed of 'doron' (gift) and 'theos' (God), thus 'gift of God'. The name Doretta emerged in the English-speaking world in the late 19th century, likely influenced by Italian immigration and a fashionable trend for feminine diminutives ending in -etta.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dora, Dottie, Etta
Variants: Dorretta, Doreta
Sibling names for Doretta
Names that share Doretta's style, for a brother or sister.
