Dorothy, of Latin origin, means 'gift of God'. It was popularized by L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel, 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', published in 1900. The protagonist Dorothy Gale and her iconic red shoes have become synonymous with the story, making this name instantly recognizable.
The name Dorothy was quite popular between the years of 1923 and 1939, with a total of 79 babies named Dorothy during this period. The peak years for naming daughters Dorothy were 1931 and 1932, each with 10 births, suggesting that parents were drawn to this classic name during these particular years.