Dorothy sits comfortably in the UK charts at #193 in 2024 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
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UK Rank 2024
#193
US Rank #431
About the Name Dorothy
Dorothy is holding steady in the rankings at #193. It reached its peak of #175 in 2020 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Dorothy is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #431 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Dorothy
Unlikely. With around 251 UK babies named Dorothy per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Dorothy in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Dorothy has held a stable position around #193 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #175 in 2020 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
Dorothy is more popular in the UK (#193) than in the US (#431). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Dorothy include: Dorothy Hodgkin — Dorothy Mary Crowfoot Hodgkin was an English chemist who advanced the technique of X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of biomolecules, which...; Dorothy Reynolds — Dorothy Reynolds was a British writer and actress.; Dorothy Bush Koch — Dorothy Walker Bush LeBlond Koch is an American author and philanthropist..
Dorothy appears in the US top 500 at #431 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
251
UK babies named Dorothy (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.1
In a school of 600
↓ 18 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Dorothy
Likely around 1 other Dorothy in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Dorothy
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Dorothy Mary Crowfoot Hodgkin was an English chemist who advanced the technique of X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of biomolecules, which became essential for structural biology. She received the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and is the only British woman scientist to have been awarded a Nobel Prize.
Dorothy Day was an American journalist, social activist and anarchist who, after a bohemian youth, became a Catholic without abandoning her social activism. She was perhaps the best-known political radical among American Catholics.
Dorothy Parker was an American poet, literary critic and writer of fiction. Based in New York, she was known for her caustic wisecracks, and eye for 20th-century urban foibles.
Dorothy Walker Bush LeBlond Koch is an American author and philanthropist. She is the sixth and youngest child of the 41st president of the United States, George H.
Dorothy Louise Bridges was an American actress and poet. Bridges was the matriarch of an acting family, which included her husband, Lloyd Bridges; two of their three sons, Beau Bridges and Jeff Bridges; and her grandson, Jordan Bridges.
Dorothy Rodgers was an American writer, inventor, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She was married to the Broadway composer Richard Rodgers, of the famous duo Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Dorothy Gibson was an American actress, socialite and artist's model, active in the early 20th century. She survived the sinking of the Titanic and starred in the first motion picture based on the disaster.
Dorothy Mae Ann Wordsworth was an English author, poet, and diarist. She was the sister of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, and the two were close all their adult lives.