Dorethea
From Ancient Greek meaning "gift from God".
Name Census estimates that about 439 living Americans carry the first name Dorethea. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dorethea today is around 69 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dorethea births was 1956 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dorethea. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Dorethea is about 69 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Doretheas were born before 1967.
People living today
439
~ 1 in 780,762 Americans
Peak year
1956
32 babies that year
Average age
69
years old
1977 SSA rank
#8,735
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Dorethea: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dorethea from the 1910s through to the 1970s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 225 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dorethea by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dorethea during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Doretheas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina recorded the most babies named Dorethea, while Maryland, Illinois, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dorethea
The name Dorethea has its origins in the Greek language and culture. It is a variation of the name Dorothy, derived from the Greek words "doron" meaning "gift" and "theos" meaning "god". The name can be interpreted as "gift of God" or "God's gift".
In ancient Greek mythology, Dorothea was the name of one of the daughters of the river god Oceanus and the Oceanid Tethys. She was considered a minor sea deity and was associated with the calm and tranquil nature of the sea.
The name Dorethea gained popularity during the early Christian era, as it was seen as a virtuous and pious name. It was often used to honor saints and martyrs who were considered gifts from God.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Dorethea can be found in the writings of the 5th-century Christian theologian, St. Augustine of Hippo. He mentioned a woman named Dorethea in his work "De Civitate Dei" (The City of God).
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Dorethea. One of the most famous was Dorethea Dix (1802-1887), an American social reformer and advocate for the humane treatment of the mentally ill. She played a crucial role in establishing the first mental asylums in the United States.
Another prominent Dorethea was Dorethea Beale (1831-1906), an English educator and founder of the Cheltenham Ladies' College. She was a pioneer in promoting education for women and played a significant role in advancing the cause of women's rights.
In the literary world, Dorethea Brooke is the heroine of George Eliot's novel "Middlemarch" (1871-1872), which is considered one of the greatest works of English literature. The character of Dorethea is portrayed as an idealistic and intelligent woman who struggles to find her place in the world.
Dorethea Tanning (1910-2012) was an American painter, sculptor, and writer, known for her surrealist works. She was also the wife of the famous surrealist artist, Max Ernst.
In the realm of politics, Dorethea Klumpke (1862-1943) was an American astronomer and activist who fought for women's suffrage in the United States. She was a member of the National Woman's Party and participated in several protests and demonstrations.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of women who have carried the name Dorethea throughout history. While the name has its roots in ancient Greece, it has transcended cultures and eras, representing the gift of individuality and strength.
People
Dorethea + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dorethea as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dorethea: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dorethea?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 439 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dorethea going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 780,762 US residents.
Is Dorethea a common name?
We classify Dorethea as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,035 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dorethea most popular?
The single biggest year for Dorethea was 1956, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dorethea is about 69 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dorethea a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dorethea in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.