Dotty first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Dotty has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Dotty

Diminutive form of the feminine name Dorothy, of Greek origin meaning "gift of God".

Popularity of Dotty by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Dotty is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Dotty.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 6
2022 0 5
2021 0 5
2015 0 5
2007 0 5
1981 0 7
1979 0 10
1978 0 5
1975 0 5
1974 0 7

The history of the first name Dotty

The given name Dotty is an English diminutive form of the name Dorothy, which has its origins in the Greek language. Dorothy is derived from the Greek name Dorothea, composed of the elements doron, meaning "gift," and theos, meaning "god." Thus, the name Dotty ultimately carries the meaning of "gift of God."

Dotty emerged as a nickname or pet form of Dorothy, likely during the Middle Ages when the use of diminutive names was common. The earliest recorded instance of the name Dotty dates back to the 16th century in England, where it was used as an affectionate abbreviation for Dorothy.

While the name Dotty does not have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its parent name, Dorothy, has been associated with various notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Saint Dorothy, a 4th-century virgin martyr venerated in the Catholic Church.

Among the famous individuals named Dotty, a notable example is Dotty Lamour, an American singer, and actress born in 1914. She was best known for her roles in several road movies and for her contributions to the World War II effort as a popular entertainer.

Another well-known figure named Dotty was Dotty Betz, an American professional golfer born in 1925. She won multiple LPGA Tour events and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1986.

Dotty Stevens, born in 1923, was an American big band singer and actress who performed with notable bands, including those led by Gene Krupa and Harry James.

In the literary world, Dotty Dimple was the name of the protagonist in a series of children's books written by Sophie May in the late 19th century.

Dotty Kazorts, born in 1950, was an American softball player who competed in the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in 1976.

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 Dotty was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Dotty first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 18, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/dotty-meaning-and-history/.

"Dotty first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/dotty-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 18 May, 2025

Dotty first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/dotty-meaning-and-history/.

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