Dorothy

The English form of Latin Dorothea, the name of a legendary (and possibly fictitious) saint, from Ancient Greek Δωροθέα (Dōrothéa), from δῶρον (dôron, “gift”) + θεός (theós, “god”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdɒɹ.ə.θi/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈdɔɹ.ə.θi/, /ˈdɔɹ.θi/
• (NYC) IPA^(key): /ˈdɑɹ.ə.θi/

Dorothy

1. A female given name.
   • c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene iv]:

     Pistol. Then to you, Mistress Dorothy; I will charge you. / Doll Tearsheet. Charge me! I scorn you, scurvy companion.

   • 1900 Lyman Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chapter 3:

     "My name is Dorothy," said the girl, " and I am going to the Emerald City to ask the Great Oz to send me back to Kansas."

   • 1990 Russell Baker, There's a Country in My Cellar, Morrow, →ISBN, page 418:

     Don't you think the world has gone steadily downhill ever since parents stopped naming their children Lucy and Dorothy and started naming them Samantha?

• doll

• pet forms: Dodie, Doll, Dolly, Dot, Dottie
• variants: Dora, Doreen, Dorothea, Thea

Borrowed from English Dorothy.

Dorothy

1. A female given name