Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1956

Dorethea

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Dorethea
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1956
32 babies
All-time total
1,035
#7,329 all-time among girls
First recorded
1912
in Social Security records

Dorethea popularity over time

1,035 babies have been named Dorethea since 1912, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.010.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1932Girls

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 – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 89 9 – #1,929
1920s 179 18 +101% #1,745
1930s 176 18 -2% #1,532
1940s 144 14 -18% #2,055
1950s 225 23 +56% #1,905
1960s 167 17 -26% #2,441
1970s 55 6 -67% #4,598
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Dorethea

Dorethea 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 1912, 1,035 American babies have been named Dorethea. Its peak came in 1956, when 32 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 Dorethea stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Dorethea?

The median living Dorethea is about 69 years old; half are between 62 and 77. An estimated 500 people named Dorethea are alive in the United States today.

median 69 020406080100

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

Dorethea 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 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 10 #5,645
1970 8 #5,958
1965 19 #2,862
1960 19 #2,838
1955 22 #2,356
1950 22 #2,069
1945 11 #2,781
1940 13 #2,331
1935 15 #2,125
1930 22 #1,716
1925 22 #1,858
1920 23 #1,767
1915 10 #2,746
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Dorethea?

The median living Dorethea is about 69 years old. Half of all living Doretheas are between 62 and 77 years old.

How many people named Dorethea are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Dorethea are alive in the United States, based on 1,035 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Dorethea in 2025?

Dorethea 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 Dorethea?

1,035 babies have been named Dorethea in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Dorethea most popular?

Dorethea peaked in 1956, when 32 newborns received the name.

Is Dorethea a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Dorethea rising or falling?

Dorethea has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Dorethea

Names that sound and feel close to Dorethea: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Dorethea with similar names → More names starting with D →