Dorthe is a Scandinavian given name of Danish origin. It is derived from the Old Norse elements "þórr," meaning "Thor," the god of thunder in Norse mythology, and "fríðr," which means "peace." Thus, Dorthe's name can be translated as "Thor brings peace."
The use of the name Dorthe dates back to medieval times in Denmark. It was quite popular during the Middle Ages but fell out of fashion by the 17th century. However, it has seen a resurgence in recent decades and is now considered somewhat retro-chic.
Interestingly, Dorthe is often spelled with an "h" at the end, as in Dorthe, rather than Dorthe without the final letter. This variation seems to be unique to Denmark and is likely due to Danish orthographic rules or perhaps simply a matter of personal preference.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures named Dorthe. One such figure is Dorthea Birk, a Danish author known for her children's books and translations of international literature into Danish. Her work has contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of Denmark's literary heritage.
In terms of its sound, Dorthe is pronounced as "DOR-tuh" in English, with the stress on the first syllable. It offers an attractive alternative for parents seeking a distinctive name with a strong Scandinavian connection.
Based on the statistical data provided, it appears that the name Dorthe experienced a modest level of popularity during the early 20th century in the United States. The highest number of babies named Dorthe was recorded in 1916 with 7 births that year. This peak was followed by a slight decrease to 5 births in 1918 and then rose again to 8 births in 1921, before dropping back down to 5 births in both 1922 and 1932. Overall, there were a total of 36 babies named Dorthe born in the United States over these years. This data shows that while Dorthe was not one of the most popular names during this period, it did maintain a consistent presence in baby name charts for several decades.