Dorothy
/ˈdɒr.ə.θi/noun
A female given name.
Did you know?Dorothy comes from the same Greek roots as Theodore, so this gentle name is secretly built from the language of divine gifting.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Dōrothéa / Dōrótheos
““Gift of God,” from dôron (“gift”) + theós (“god”).”
Late Antiquity
Greek
Dōrótheos / Dōrothéa
“A Christian personal name used in Greek-speaking communities.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Dorothea
“Latinized female form of the Greek name.”
Middle English
English
Dorothe
“An English female given name, often from French or Latin forms.”
Modern English
English
Dorothy
“A common female given name.”