How Many People Are Named Dorothy?
Complete statistics for the name Dorothy: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Dorothy means gift of God, an uncommonly beautiful name for girls. It's estimated that 1 in 1,289 Americans today are named Dorothy, making it pretty rare. With 96% of people named Dorothy over 60, it definitely skews towards older generations.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 6 symbolizes harmony, responsibility, and nurturing qualities.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 95All 1,115,044 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1924Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Dorothy Through the Generations
Throughout the decades, Dorothy has seen its peaks and valleys. Born in 1924, when 40,097 babies were given this name, it was a popular choice during the Roaring Twenties and beyond. Today, there are 255,952 people named Dorothy living in the United States, with most being over 60 years old. This classic name is now experiencing a resurgence, showing that it's not just a relic of the past but a timeless choice.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Dorothy
Dorothy is a feminine given name. It is the English vernacular form of the Greek Δωροθέα meaning 'God's gift', from δῶρον 'gift' + θεός 'god'. It has been in use since the 15th century. Although much less common, there are also male equivalents in English such as Dory, from the Greek masculine Δωρόθεος. Dorofei is a rarely used Russian male version of the name. The given names Theodore and Theodora are derived from the same two Greek root words as Dorothy, albeit reversed in order.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Dorothy's Greek roots
📄 About the Name Dorothy
How Many People Have the Name Dorothy?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,041 people in the United States currently share the name Dorothy. That works out to roughly 1 in every 318,395 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Dorothy a Common or Rare Name?
Dorothy is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Dorothy Mean?
Dorothy means "gift of God" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 6.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Dorothy in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Dorothy Most Popular?
The name Dorothy reached peak popularity in 1924, with 40,097 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Dorothy?
Approximately 1,041 people named Dorothy live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,041. That works out to roughly 1 in 318,395 Americans.
Is Dorothy a rare name?
Dorothy is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 318,395 Americans has this name.
What does the name Dorothy mean?
Dorothy means "gift of God" and comes from Greek origins.
Is Dorothy more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Dorothy are male and 100% are female.
When was Dorothy most popular?
Dorothy peaked in 1924 with 40,097 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.