A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Dorothea since 1880
Babies named Dorothea per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Dorothea's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 347 |
| 1890s | 807 |
| 1900s | 1,810 |
| 1910s | 7,750 |
| 1920s | 8,518 |
| 1930s | 4,180 |
| 1940s | 3,111 |
| 1950s | 3,008 |
| 1960s | 2,326 |
| 1970s | 768 |
| 1980s | 478 |
| 1990s | 299 |
| 2000s | 210 |
| 2010s | 345 |
| 2020s | 464 |
Meaning & origin
Dorothea is a classic Greek name meaning 'gift of God,' sharing roots with Dorothy and Theodora. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1880 and reached its peak popularity in 1913, when it was among the top choices for girls. The name has since become uncommon, but it is currently experiencing a revival with a rising trajectory since 2006. In 2025, it ranked 1,777th with roughly 1 in 14,224 girls receiving the name. Geographically, it has seen the most use in Washington, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Dorothea offers a vintage feel and several familiar nicknames like Dora and Dottie, making it a historically grounded option for parents seeking a traditional name with deep roots in Christian history.
Dorothea is the feminine form of the Greek name Dorotheos, derived from 'doron' meaning 'gift' and 'theos' meaning 'god'. It shares roots with names like Dorothy and Theodora. The name has been used since early Christian times, honoring the 4th-century martyr Saint Dorothea.
Where Dorothea 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.
“Dorothea” around the world
Where Dorothea 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: Dora, Dot, Dottie, Thea, Do
Sibling names for Dorothea
Names that share Dorothea's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Margaret, Eleanor, Beatrice, Charlotte, Helena, Agatha, Althea, Ione, Christiane, Vernita, Apollonia, Deloria, Francena, Lethia, Teretha, Anthonia, Caretha, Magdelena, Petronella, Theona, Vaneta, Willean, Alithia, Berenis, Parthena, Thedora, Timothea
Brothers: Theodore, Augustus, Frederick, George, William, Adolphus, Theophilus, Cornel, Theotis, Corydon, Theophil, Theopolis, Theodoro, Theoplis
