Total births
4,788
Girls' name · since 1885
Dorotha
4,788 babies named Dorotha in U.S. Social Security records since 1885, with the highest year being 1921. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 4,788
- total births
- 1885–1970
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 37%
- born in that decade
Dorotha is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 4,788 have been recorded since 1885.
Social Security Administration records show Dorotha recorded 4,788 times among girls since 1885, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1885 to 1970.
- 4,788 total births
- 1885–1970 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 37% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
4,788 girls have been named Dorotha since 1885, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1970.
- 4,788
- total births
- 1885–1970
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 37%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
37% of everyone ever named Dorotha was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
197 babies were named Dorotha in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
Dorotha's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Dorotha's SSA record in two at 1931 and the more recent half accounts for 27% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 73%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1892, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1921 peak of 197, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Dorotha at a glance
Last recorded 1970Peak year
1921
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1885
Dorotha popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1885–1970
- Peak year (1921)
- 197
- Annual births at peak, across 86 years of records
Dorotha by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Dorotha's strongest decade.
1,767 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 37% of all-time use.
Dorotha births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 6
1880s
6 births
- 1890s 38
1890s
38 births
- 1900s 273
1900s
273 births
- 1910s
1910s
1,263 births
- 1920s
1920s
1,767 births
- 1930s
1930s
832 births
- 1940s 354
1940s
354 births
- 1950s 166
1950s
166 births
- 1960s 84
1960s
84 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 1,767 births (37% of all-time use).
How Dorotha compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Dorotha's total volume
Dorotha vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Dorotha by state
Where Dorotha concentrates geographically, total births since 1885
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Oklahoma | | 423 | 8.8% |
| #2 | Ohio | | 338 | 7.1% |
| #3 | Texas | | 315 | 6.6% |
| #4 | Indiana | | 306 | 6.4% |
| #5 | West Virginia | | 229 | 4.8% |
| #6 | Kentucky | | 221 | 4.6% |
| #7 | Arkansas | | 206 | 4.3% |
| #8 | Tennessee | | 202 | 4.2% |
Oklahoma share of Dorotha's total US births 8.8%
Even split
423 of 4,788 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 20 reporting states.
Dorotha appears in 20 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Dorotha? ▼
Since 1885, Social Security records show 4,788 babies named Dorotha. The most recent recorded year was 1970. Its busiest year on record was 1921, with 197 births.
When was Dorotha most popular? ▼
Dorotha was most popular in the 1920s decade with 1,767 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Dorotha most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Dorotha are Oklahoma (423 births), Ohio (338 births), Texas (315 births).
How long has the name Dorotha been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Dorotha since 1885 -- 86 years through the most recent 1970 data.
What names are similar to Dorotha? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Dorothy, Doris, Dora, Doreen, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Dorotha's data
- Dorotha's decade-level peak was the 1920s (1,767 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Oklahoma records the most Dorothas (423 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Oklahoma names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Dorotha
Nearby Names Like Dorotha
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Dorotha
Dorothy Girl
#430 1,112,231 births
Doris Girl
#2205 462,548 births
Dora Girl
#2585 105,930 births
Doreen Girl
#5810 46,431 births
Dorothea Girl
#2067 34,421 births
Compare Dorotha side by side: Dorotha vs Dorothy Dorotha vs Doris Dorotha vs Dora
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1885–1970 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Dorotha: Baby Name Since 1885 - 4,788 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/dorotha. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Dorotha draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.