When was Dorothy most popular?

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

What are the origins of the name Dorothy Ma?

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

Dorothy Ma — 1.1 million & 28K bearers

Dorothy Ma 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 Ma: Ma (simplified Chinese: 马; traditional Chinese: 馬; pinyin: Mǎ) is a Chinese family name. The surname literally means 'horse'. As of 2006, it ranks as the 14th most common Chinese surname in mainland China. In 2019 it was the 13th most common surname in mainland China. A 2013 study found it to be the 13th most common, shared by 17,200,000 people or 1.290% of the population, with the province with the most being Henan. It is the 52nd name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem. From He (surname) adopted name "Ma" (馬), the first word of the district Ma Fu, as their surname. 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: Ma

Vietnamese

Ma (simplified Chinese: 马; traditional Chinese: 馬; pinyin: Mǎ) is a Chinese family name. The surname literally means 'horse'. As of 2006, it ranks as the 14th most common Chinese surname in mainland China. In 2019 it was the 13th most common surname in mainland China. A 2013 study found it to be the 13th most common, shared by 17,200,000 people or 1.290% of the population, with the province with the most being Henan. It is the 52nd name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem. From He (surname) adopted name "Ma" (馬), the first word of the district Ma Fu, as their surname.

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 Ma

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 Ma:

11

Expression Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

4

Soul Urge Number

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

7

Personality Number

Wisdom and introspection. A deep, analytical mind drawn to philosophy, spirituality and the search for truth.

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 Ma?: The surname Ma originates from Vietnamese. Ma (simplified Chinese: 马; traditional Chinese: 馬; pinyin: Mǎ) is a Chinese family name. The surname literally means 'horse'. As of 2006, it ranks as the 14th most common Chinese surname in mainland China. In 2019 it was the 13th most common surname in mainland China. A 2013 study found it to be the 13th most common, shared by 17,200,000 people or 1.290% of the population, with the province with the most being Henan. It is the 52nd name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem. From He (surname) adopted name "Ma" (馬), the first word of the district Ma Fu, as their surname.
What are the origins of the name Dorothy Ma?: The name Dorothy Ma combines two different traditions: the first name Dorothy has Greek roots, while the surname Ma originates from Vietnamese.