What Does the Name Dorothy Mean?
Dorothy is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning “gift of God.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Dorothy |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Greek |
| Meaning | gift of God |
| Variants | Dorothea, Dorothee, Dot, Dottie, Dorthy |
| Popularity | A top-10 US name in the 1920s; now uncommon but returning among vintage revivals. |
The meaning and origin of Dorothy
The name Dorothy means “gift of God” and has Greek origins. From the Greek name Dorothea, combining 'doron' (gift) and 'theos' (god), giving 'gift of God.' It became hugely iconic through the heroine of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Variants and related names
Dorothy is related to several other names you may recognize: Dorothea, Dorothee, Dot, Dottie, Dorthy. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Dorothy?
A top-10 US name in the 1920s; now uncommon but returning among vintage revivals.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Dorothy below.
Generate a fake Dorothy profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dorothy mean?+
The name Dorothy means “gift of God” and is of Greek origin.
What is the origin of the name Dorothy?+
Dorothy originates from Greek.
Is Dorothy a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Dorothy has trended in the US over time.
Dorothy by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press