Doretha: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	6	1	–	#1,458
1900s	88	9	+1367%	#855
1910s	541	54	+515%	#686
1920s	1,379	138	+155%	#546
1930s	1,451	145	+5%	#502
1940s	1,496	150	+3%	#554
1950s	1,833	183	+23%	#640
1960s	1,123	112	-39%	#815
1970s	400	40	-64%	#1,506
1980s	186	19	-53%	#2,356
1990s	59	6	-68%	#6,225
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

#1,458

1900s

+1367%

#855

1910s

541

+515%

#686

1920s

1,379

138

+155%

#546

1930s

1,451

145

+5%

#502

1940s

1,496

150

+3%

#554

1950s

1,833

183

+23%

#640

1960s

1,123

112

-39%

#815

1970s

400

-64%

#1,506

1980s

186

-53%

#2,356

1990s

-68%

#6,225

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Doretha

Doretha is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1896, 8,562 American babies have been named Doretha. Its peak came in 1956, when 198 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Doretha stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Doretha?

The median living Doretha is about 70 years old; half are between 62 and 78. An estimated 4,500 people named Doretha are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Doretha year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	5	#14,073
1990	14	#6,225
1985	13	#5,438
1980	41	#2,356
1975	32	#2,470
1970	66	#1,506
1965	107	#1,010
1960	163	#815
1955	191	#678
1950	155	#690
1945	153	#589
1940	155	#554
1935	155	#515
1930	152	#553
1925	157	#573
1920	129	#634
1915	50	#938
1910	21	#948
1905	16	#935
1900	6	#1,776
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Doretha, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Doretha?

The median living Doretha is about 70 years old. Half of all living Dorethas are between 62 and 78 years old.

How many people named Doretha are alive today?

An estimated 4,500 people named Doretha are alive in the United States, based on 8,562 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Doretha in 2025?

Doretha did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Doretha?

8,562 babies have been named Doretha in the United States since 1896, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Doretha most popular?

Doretha peaked in 1956, when 198 newborns received the name.

Is Doretha a boy or girl name?

Doretha is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Doretha rising or falling?

Doretha has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Doretha

Doretha popularity over time

The story of Doretha

How old are people named Doretha?

Doretha year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Doretha