Holding steady.
Popularity of Dortha since 1889
Babies named Dortha per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 58 |
| 1900s | 282 |
| 1910s | 1,297 |
| 1920s | 2,500 |
| 1930s | 1,456 |
| 1940s | 682 |
| 1950s | 325 |
| 1960s | 149 |
| 1970s | 35 |
| 1980s | 22 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Dortha is a vintage name that enjoyed its peak popularity in the 1920s, reaching its highest rank in 1925. It is a phonetic variant of Dorothy, a classic name that was among the most popular for girls in the early 20th century. While Dortha has since fallen out of regular use, it represents an era when names like Bertha, Myrtle, and Hazel were common. The name's trajectory has been stable since the 1920s, with no revival in recent decades.
Dortha is a variant of Dorothy, which derives from the Greek name Dorothea, meaning 'gift of God,' from 'doron' (gift) and 'theos' (God). Dorothy entered English in the Middle Ages and became popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Dortha emerged as a phonetic spelling variant, used primarily in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Where Dortha 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.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dot, Dottie, Dorthy
Sibling names for Dortha
Names that share Dortha's style, for a brother or sister.
