Dorothy is a name of English origin, derived from the feminine given name Dorothea. The name Dorothea is composed of two Greek elements: "dōron", meaning "gift", and "theos", meaning "god". Therefore, Dorothy means "gift of God".
The name Dorothy was popularized in the Middle Ages through Saint Dorothea, a Christian martyr who was beheaded during the Roman persecution. She was known for her kindness and generosity, which contributed to the positive associations with the name.
In literature, one of the most notable characters named Dorothy is from L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". The story, first published in 1900, follows young Dorothy Gale from Kansas as she travels through the magical land of Oz after a tornado sweeps her and her dog Toto away. Although this character has made the name Dorothy more widely known, it was already popular among English-speaking populations by that time.
Throughout history, various notable figures have carried the name Dorothy. Some examples include Dorothy Wordsworth, sister of the famous poet William Wordsworth; Dorothy Parker, a renowned American writer and poet; and Dorothy Hodgkin, a British chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964.
Today, Dorothy remains a classic choice for parents seeking a timeless yet distinctive name for their daughters. Despite its vintage charm, it has not fallen out of favor like some other historic names, making it an enduring option for generations to come.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Dorothy in the United States between 1923 and 1943. Over this period, there were a total of 79 babies named Dorothy.
The most popular years for the name were 1932 and 1939, with 10 and 8 births respectively. However, the name's popularity fluctuated quite a bit over these two decades, ranging from a low of 5 births in 1927 to a high of 10 births in 1932.
It is interesting to note that despite some variations in popularity over time, the name Dorothy remained relatively consistent throughout this period, with an average of around 8 births per year. This suggests that the name was well-established and widely used during these years.