Doretha
Every Doretha since 1896 — 8,562 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
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.