When was Dorothy most popular?

The name Dorothy reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Dorothy Chan?

The name Dorothy Chan combines two different traditions: the first name Dorothy has Greek roots, while the surname Chan originates from Vietnamese.

Dorothy Chan — 1.1 million & 77K bearers

Dorothy Chan is a name that combines Greek origins. The first name Dorothy is a feminine given name of Greek origin. From the Greek Dorothea (Δωροθέα), meaning "gift of God." The name was reversed to create Theodore (God's gift). The surname Chan: Chan is a non-pinyin romanisation of multiple Chinese surnames, based on different varieties of Chinese. Among respondents to the 2000 United States census, Chan was the 12th-most common surname among Asian Pacific Americans, and 459th-most common overall, with 59,811 bearers (91.0% of whom identified as Asian/Pacific Islander). Chan was the ninth-most common Chinese surname in Singapore as of 1997 (ranked by English spelling, rather than by Chinese characters). Roughly 48,400 people, or 1.9% of the Chinese Singaporean population, bore the surname Chan. Dorothy is one of the most widespread first names worldwide, carried by approximately 1.1 million people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Dorothy reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Dorothy

Meaning: gift of God

Greek

From the Greek Dorothea (Δωροθέα), meaning "gift of God." The name was reversed to create Theodore (God's gift).

Surname: Chan

Vietnamese

Chan is a non-pinyin romanisation of multiple Chinese surnames, based on different varieties of Chinese. Among respondents to the 2000 United States census, Chan was the 12th-most common surname among Asian Pacific Americans, and 459th-most common overall, with 59,811 bearers (91.0% of whom identified as Asian/Pacific Islander). Chan was the ninth-most common Chinese surname in Singapore as of 1997 (ranked by English spelling, rather than by Chinese characters). Roughly 48,400 people, or 1.9% of the Chinese Singaporean population, bore the surname Chan.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Dorothy is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 22%

Australia 10%

Greece 8%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Dorothy by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Dorothy Chan

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Dorothy Chan:

5

Expression Number

Freedom and adaptability. A dynamic, versatile personality that embraces change and seeks new experiences.

4

Soul Urge Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

1

Personality Number

Leadership and independence. This number suggests a self-reliant, ambitious and pioneering personality that forges its own path.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Dorothy?: The first name Dorothy originates from Greek. From the Greek Dorothea (Δωροθέα), meaning "gift of God." The name was reversed to create Theodore (God's gift).
When was Dorothy most popular?: The name Dorothy reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Chan?: The surname Chan originates from Vietnamese. Chan is a non-pinyin romanisation of multiple Chinese surnames, based on different varieties of Chinese. Among respondents to the 2000 United States census, Chan was the 12th-most common surname among Asian Pacific Americans, and 459th-most common overall, with 59,811 bearers (91.0% of whom identified as Asian/Pacific Islander). Chan was the ninth-most common Chinese surname in Singapore as of 1997 (ranked by English spelling, rather than by Chinese characters). Roughly 48,400 people, or 1.9% of the Chinese Singaporean population, bore the surname Chan.
What are the origins of the name Dorothy Chan?: The name Dorothy Chan combines two different traditions: the first name Dorothy has Greek roots, while the surname Chan originates from Vietnamese.