Holding steady.
Popularity of Dorothee since 1906
Babies named Dorothee per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Dorothee's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 9 |
| 1910s | 93 |
| 1920s | 145 |
| 1930s | 31 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Dorothee first appeared in U.S. records in 1906 and reached its peak rank that same year, the earliest year for which data is available. Since then, its usage has remained stable but minimal, with no recorded rank in recent decades. The name is the French and German form of Dorothea, a classic Greek name meaning 'gift of God', borne by early Christian martyrs. While not common in the United States, Dorothee maintains a refined, vintage appeal in European naming traditions, particularly in France and Germany. Its trajectory shows consistent but low-level use, reflecting its status as a traditional name that has never surged in popularity in America.
Dorothee is the French and German form of Dorothy, which derives from the Greek name Dorothea, composed of 'doron' meaning 'gift' and 'theos' meaning 'God'. The name has been used in Christian contexts since the early saints, including Saint Dorothea of Caesarea, a 4th-century martyr. It gained popularity in France and Germany during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
“Dorothee” around the world
Where Dorothee lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Quebec
7
babies in 2025
Sources: Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Doro, Thea, Dottie
Sibling names for Dorothee
Names that share Dorothee's style, for a brother or sister.
