Find out how popular the first name Dorathy has been for the last 2 years (from 1977 to 1978) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Dorathy by gender

Based on the last 2 years of data, Dorathy is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1978, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Dorathy.

The history of the first name Dorathy

Dorathy is a feminine given name with roots tracing back to ancient Greece. It is derived from the Greek name Dorothea, which is a combination of the elements "doron" meaning "gift" and "theos" meaning "god." The name Dorothea translates to "gift of God."

In ancient times, the name Dorothea was widely used among Greek communities, particularly in regions where Greek culture and language had a strong influence. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in ancient Greek texts and inscriptions dating back to the 5th century BC.

The name gained popularity within the Christian tradition as it was associated with several early Christian martyrs. One of the most notable figures bearing this name was Saint Dorothy of Caesarea, a 4th-century virgin martyr who was executed during the Diocletian persecution. Her story and martyrdom contributed to the widespread adoption of the name among Christians.

During the Middle Ages, the name Dorothea, and its variations like Dorathy, were commonly used across Europe, particularly in regions with strong Christian influences. Notable historical figures with this name include Dorothy of Montau (c. 1347-1394), a Polish mystic and religious writer, and Dorothy of Saxony (1501-1570), a German princess and abbess.

In the 16th century, the name Dorathy gained prominence in England. One of the earliest recorded examples is Dorothy Wilbraham (c. 1541-1616), an English landowner and philanthropist. Another notable figure was Dorothy Sidney, Countess of Sunderland (1617-1684), an English noblewoman and influential figure in the court of King Charles II.

The 17th century saw the rise of several influential women bearing the name Dorathy, including Dorothy Leigh (c. 1598-1616), an English poet, and Dorothy Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (1617-1684), a prominent figure in the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the name Dorathy continued to be popular, with notable figures such as Dorothy Wordsworth (1771-1855), the English writer and sister of the poet William Wordsworth, and Dorothy Quincy (1747-1830), the wife of John Hancock, one of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dorathy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dorathy, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!