Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1921

Dortha

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Dortha
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1921
295 babies
All-time total
6,811
#2,105 all-time among girls
First recorded
1889
in Social Security records

Dortha popularity over time

6,811 babies have been named Dortha since 1889, 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
0.080.150.230.318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1925Girls

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 5 1 – #1,332
1890s 58 6 +1060% #918
1900s 282 28 +386% #508
1910s 1,297 130 +360% #445
1920s 2,500 250 +93% #390
1930s 1,456 146 -42% #472
1940s 682 68 -53% #753
1950s 325 33 -52% #1,368
1960s 149 15 -54% #2,162
1970s 35 4 -77% #5,598
1980s 22 2 -37% #8,387
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Dortha

Dortha 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 1889, 6,811 American babies have been named Dortha. Its peak came in 1921, when 295 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Dortha stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Dortha?

The median living Dortha is about 81 years old; half are between 72 and 88. An estimated 1,300 people named Dortha are alive in the United States today.

median 81 020406080100

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

Dortha 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 7 #8,387
1975 5 #9,463
1970 5 #8,332
1965 8 #4,951
1960 22 #2,589
1955 37 #1,705
1950 45 #1,368
1945 69 #905
1940 85 #753
1935 139 #546
1930 203 #472
1925 293 #400
1920 248 #425
1915 148 #511
1910 37 #699
1905 22 #785
1900 15 #983
1895 7 #1,335
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Dortha?

The median living Dortha is about 81 years old. Half of all living Dorthas are between 72 and 88 years old.

How many people named Dortha are alive today?

An estimated 1,300 people named Dortha are alive in the United States, based on 6,811 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Dortha in 2025?

Dortha 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 Dortha?

6,811 babies have been named Dortha in the United States since 1889, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Dortha most popular?

Dortha peaked in 1921, when 295 newborns received the name.

Is Dortha a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Dortha rising or falling?

Dortha has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Dortha

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

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