Dora Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Dora originates from Greek, meaning 'gift'. It has evolved from names like Dorothea and Theodora. Dora is appreciated for its simplicity and charm, lacking biblical connotations. It saw increased popularity in the late 19th century and remains a beloved name today, often associated with adventurous characters in popular culture.
The name Dora is most popular in New Mexico, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Dora has been stalled for female in MidWest, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Dora' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2453rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2658th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3906th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6381st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 127th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 179th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 287th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 460th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 875th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1550th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2205th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Dora' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dora"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɔːrə/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Dora is derived from the Greek word 'doron', which means 'gift'. It is often used as a diminutive of names that end with -dora, such as Theodora or Isadora.
Meaning
gift
Language Evolution
Dora (modern form), Dorothea (Greek origin), Theodora (Greek origin), Doron (original Greek word)
Historical Usage
Dora gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in English-speaking countries. It has remained a classic name through the years.
Variants & Derivatives
Dorothea, Theodora, Dori, Doreen
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Dora is viewed as a charming and timeless name, often associated with youthful innocence and adventure due to cultural references in media.
Famous People
Dora Maar (French photographer and painter), Dora the Explorer (fictional character from a children's animated television series), Dora Milaje (fictional characters in Marvel Comics)
Explore More Dora Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dora"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Dora"
"Dora" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2453rd of 7545 | 178 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2658th of 6773 | 151 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3906th of 7552 | 75 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6381st of 10718 | 36 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 127th of 9107 | 36,175 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 179th of 9204 | 21,397 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 287th of 12526 | 17,585 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 460th of 19264 | 7,291 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 875th of 27321 | 3,328 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1550th of 35406 | 2,127 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2205th of 30306 | 1,016 |
Regional Popularity of "Dora" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
96.75% 2289th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
82.83% 1949th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Dora" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
10.81% 153rd/1416 |
11.31% 156th/1379 |
4.18% 99th/2366 |
9.11% 104th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
14.49% 224th/1546 |
16.97% 264th/1556 |
5.74% 135th/2353 |
9.76% 151st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
18.23% 406th/2227 |
18.97% 461st/2430 |
7.22% 206th/2853 |
10.20% 283rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
19.14% 562nd/2937 |
19.32% 673rd/3483 |
10.06% 354th/3518 |
10.46% 423rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
32.51% 1198th/3685 |
27.87% 1247th/4475 |
14.98% 778th/5194 |
11.89% 751st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
41.20% 1888th/4582 |
32.32% 1669th/5164 |
21.84% 1597th/7313 |
19.01% 1419th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
73.62% 2933rd/3984 |
41.19% 1848th/4487 |
37.91% 2586th/6822 |
23.18% 1455th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Dora"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dora" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.