Derived from the Greek 'Dorothea', meaning 'gift of God', the name Dorothy has an ancient and elegant origin. It was introduced to England through the Normans, who brought it over during their conquest in the 11th century. Throughout history, this name has been associated with royalty and nobility, with notable bearers including Queen Dorothy of Hungary, consort of King Andrew II. However, its popularity in English-speaking countries can be attributed to its use by L. Frank Baum in his classic novel 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', where it belongs to the beloved character known as Dorothy Gale.
The name Dorothy saw a significant increase in popularity from the early 1910s to the mid-1920s, with a peak of 46 births in 1925. However, by the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s, its prevalence began to decline, reaching as low as 5 births in certain years during the 1950s and 1970s. Overall, there were a total of 1147 births named Dorothy between 1912 and 1979.