Dorothy

#421 for girls in 2025, 743 births · Last seen for boys in 1989 at #6,941
Given to girls 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1924 · 39,996 births
Debut · girls
112 births
In top 100 · girls
72 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
1,112,231
since 1880

Dorothy over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201973peak #2, 1924girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#421743
2024#429718
2023#463664
2022#486645
2021#483649
2020#535565
2019#561546
2018#580530
2017#590507
2016#644456
2015#714398
2014#727385
2013#806335
2012#922279
2011#927279
2010#1,027243
2009#1,116227
2008#1,070244
2007#1,003263
2006#976267
2005#1,025237
2004#848290
2003#835292
2002#867264
2001#750319
2000#736314
1999#678335
1998#710312
1997#682316
1996#640350
1995#597377
1994#549443
1993#515476
1992#486509
1991#486497
1990#426596
1989#398620#6,9416
1988#396608
1987#381614
1986#373629
1985#332719#6,5235
1984#340681
1983#305759#5,4846
1982#298829
1981#307788#6,2625
1980#278896
1979#272890
1978#260914
1977#269933
1976#240982
1975#250976#5,4645
1974#2321,098
1973#2151,175#4,0547
1972#2181,273#3,9637
1971#1911,624
1970#1801,799#4,7245
1969#1811,776#2,54912
1968#1572,086#2,57611
1967#1482,314#2,35212
1966#1362,664#2,32712
1965#1302,961#2,27013
1964#1183,533#2,40912
1963#1163,796#2,67310
1962#1114,073#2,03516
1961#994,732#2,32213
1960#955,076#1,77221
1959#945,231#2,20014
1958#865,539#1,76620
1957#746,405#1,51127
1956#726,858#1,67622
1955#647,242#1,39630
1954#557,789#1,62822
1953#498,162#1,76519
1952#468,609#1,51725
1951#429,089#1,34430
1950#359,551#1,36428
1949#3210,410#1,40927
1948#2911,324#1,48724
1947#2612,753#1,29732
1946#2312,797#1,06042
1945#2112,323#86452
1944#1913,379#93547
1943#1914,793#80866
1942#1715,037#82162
1941#1414,566#72972
1940#1214,875#65385
1939#915,169#69573
1938#816,358#59099
1937#816,572#70073
1936#617,666#573101
1935#619,406#525121
1934#521,281#549116
1933#422,054#524117
1932#424,974#558112
1931#326,524#478141
1930#330,411#480153
1929#331,476#536118
1928#333,733#552122
1927#235,993#553124
1926#236,618#563119
1925#238,570#63999
1924#239,996#638101
1923#239,043#66892
1922#237,716#84066
1921#239,087#69287
1920#236,643#75476
1919#331,733#79966
1918#332,030#85559
1917#328,852#82260
1916#327,418#69872
1915#325,154#94144
1914#318,782#85540
1913#314,674#69643
1912#312,645#64942
1911#48,869#53331
1910#47,318#58224
1909#56,253#50526
1908#65,703#58519
1907#64,967#51121
1906#64,326#50320
1905#73,937#74111
1904#103,477#53817
1903#113,078#9107
1902#152,707#9337
1901#222,173
1900#272,491#9688
1899#351,687#7868
1898#431,671
1897#431,472#9426
1896#461,366
1895#571,127#1,0795
1894#581,052#8577
1893#68821
1892#79626
1891#76566
1890#93458
1889#102377
1888#103373
1887#111272
1886#122230
1885#128196
1884#137163
1883#137141
1882#150115
1881#144109
1880#139112
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Dorothy was already there! It came in at #139, and was given to 112 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1884, when fewer than 170 girls a year got the name.

Where Dorothy is popular in 1973

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedAKMaine: #163 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 743 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedNHWashington: #342 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,087 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #352 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,254 girlsMNIllinois: #206 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 1,115 girlsILWisconsin: #294 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,240 girlsWIMichigan: #276 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 1,636 girlsMINew York: #206 for girls · 98 births · 1 in 1,055 girlsNYMassachusetts: #262 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,762 girlsMARhode Island: #182 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 936 girlsRIOregon: #312 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,759 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedSDIowa: #291 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,037 girlsIAIndiana: #310 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,085 girlsINOhio: #193 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 1,004 girlsOHPennsylvania: #184 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 993 girlsPANew Jersey: #187 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 979 girlsNJConnecticut: #242 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,337 girlsCTCalifornia: #429 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 2,616 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedUTColorado: #344 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,956 girlsCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedNEMissouri: #223 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 1,121 girlsMOKentucky: #140 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 627 girlsKYWest Virginia: #187 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 876 girlsWVVirginia: #193 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 968 girlsVAMaryland: #259 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,447 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedDEArizona: #339 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,642 girlsAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Dorothy, so not publishedKSArkansas: #211 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 958 girlsARTennessee: #167 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 807 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #143 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 612 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #128 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 541 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #195 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 799 girlsDCOklahoma: #342 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,923 girlsOKLouisiana: #187 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 828 girlsLAMississippi: #89 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 349 girlsMSAlabama: #149 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 676 girlsALGeorgia: #124 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 541 girlsGAHawaii: #257 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 907 girlsHITexas: #217 for girls · 92 births · 1 in 1,026 girlsTXFlorida: #157 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 741 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Mississippi#89 · 1 in 349
  2. Georgia#124 · 1 in 541
  3. South Carolina#128 · 1 in 541
  4. Kentucky#140 · 1 in 627
  5. North Carolina#143 · 1 in 612

Best ever in a state: #1 in Oregon, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#89471 in 349
Georgia#124631 in 541
South Carolina#128341 in 541
Kentucky#140371 in 627
North Carolina#143571 in 612
Alabama#149341 in 676
Florida#157581 in 741
Maine#16381 in 743
Tennessee#167341 in 807
Rhode Island#18251 in 936
Pennsylvania#184681 in 993
Louisiana#187311 in 828
New Jersey#187391 in 979
West Virginia#187131 in 876
Ohio#193701 in 1,004
Virginia#193291 in 968
District of Columbia#19581 in 799
Illinois#206631 in 1,115
New York#206981 in 1,055
Arkansas#211131 in 958
Texas#217921 in 1,026
Missouri#223261 in 1,121
Connecticut#242111 in 1,337
Hawaii#25751 in 907
Maryland#259131 in 1,447
Massachusetts#262181 in 1,762
Michigan#276361 in 1,636
Iowa#29181 in 2,037
Wisconsin#294121 in 2,240
Indiana#310171 in 2,085
Oregon#31271 in 1,759
Arizona#33991 in 1,642
Oklahoma#34281 in 1,923
Washington#34291 in 2,087
Colorado#34481 in 1,956
Minnesota#35271 in 3,254
California#429501 in 2,616
Alaska
Delaware
Idaho
Kansas
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Wyoming

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Dorothy
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 8 spots since 2024 (#429#421)
  • 114 spots since 2020 (#535#421)
  • 293 spots since 2015 (#714#421)
  • Biggest jump: 116 spots in 2013 (#922#806)
  • Biggest drop: 177 spots in 2005 (#848#1,025)
Rise & fade · girls
44 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1924 at #2 (39,996 births)
  • Births halved by 1935, 11 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 36 yrs
  • Top 10: 36 yrs · run 1904–1939
  • Top 100: 72 yrs · run 1890–1961
  • Top 1,000: 141 yrs · run 1880–2004
Share of babies · girls
1 in 31
  • Highest: 1 in 31 girls born in 1923 were named Dorothy (3.2%)
  • Latest: 1 in 2,163 girls born in 2025 (0.05%)
  • Its best rank, #2 in 1924, was only 1 in 31 (3.2%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 33.2% of all girls named Dorothy (368,875) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s2,088#102 (1889)#127
1890s10,846#35 (1899)#60
1900s39,112#5 (1909)#12
1910s207,475#3 (1918)#3
1920s368,875#2 (1924)#2
1930s210,415#3 (1930)#6
1940s132,257#12 (1940)#21
1950s74,475#35 (1950)#62
1960s33,011#95 (1960)#129
1970s11,664#180 (1970)#233
1980s7,143#278 (1980)#341
1990s4,211#426 (1990)#577
2000s2,717#736 (2000)#923
2010s3,958#561 (2019)#750
2020s3,984#421 (2025)#470

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Dorothy in 1973

girls
#215
1,175 births · 1 in 1,241 girls
boys
#4,054
7 births · 1 in 222,654 boys

Top girls' names in 1973

  1. #1Jennifer62,448
  2. #2Amy26,962
  3. #3Michelle26,935
  4. #4Kimberly23,531
  5. #5Lisa22,677
  6. #6Melissa22,479
  7. #7Angela20,898
  8. #8Heather19,347
  9. #9Stephanie17,263
  10. #10Rebecca14,868
  11. #215Dorothy1,175

Top boys' names in 1973

  1. #1Michael67,797
  2. #2Christopher48,313
  3. #3Jason46,683
  4. #4James42,836
  5. #5David41,082
  6. #6John39,165
  7. #7Robert38,698
  8. #8Brian35,686
  9. #9William28,018
  10. #10Matthew24,531
  11. #4,054Dorothy7
More about 1973

girls

1,458,209 girls got a published name in 1973; 1 in 1,241 of them was named Dorothy, which outranked 97.8% of the 9,810 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Dorothy
  1. #212Kelley1,201
  2. #213Latonya1,195
  3. #214Alice1,187
  4. #215Dorothy1,175
  5. #216Darlene1,161
  6. #217Frances1,155
  7. #217Shirley1,155
Biggest movers since 1972
Risers
  1. 4,091Cicely#4,793#702
  2. 2,295Aubrey#3,177#882
  3. 1,847Nyree#2,680#833
  4. 1,533Danyell#2,523#990
  5. 1,496Vonetta#2,311#815
Fallers
  1. 1,814Camisha#815#2,629
  2. 470Andra#904#1,374
  3. 416Cherilyn#823#1,239
  4. 284Keena#848#1,132
  5. 281Nicolle#734#1,015

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,558,576 boys got a published name in 1973; 1 in 222,654 of them was named Dorothy, which outranked 31.0% of the 5,877 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 26.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Dorothy
  1. #3,694Zebedee8
  2. #3,694Zebulun8
  3. #3,694Zenas8
  4. #4,054Dorothy7
  5. #4,054Aaran7
  6. #4,054Abron7
  7. #4,054Adair7
  8. #4,505Abdu6
  9. #4,505Abelino6
  10. #4,505Able6

Tied with 450 names at #4,054; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1972
Risers
  1. 2,348Vashon#3,152#804
  2. 1,405Jory#2,158#753
  3. 348Pernell#1,262#914
  4. 345Enoch#1,307#962
  5. 273Tarik#1,177#904
Fallers
  1. 669Jabbar#917#1,586
  2. 361Wes#993#1,354
  3. 326Paris#797#1,123
  4. 284Christophe#984#1,268
  5. 272Bennett#851#1,123

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1973