Fun Facts About the Name Dot
- More than 1 thousand babies named Dot: U.S. records list 1,392 babies given the name Dot from 1880 through 2025. Even 22 boys received the name Dot - about 1 boy for every 62 girls.
What Does the Name Dot Mean?
Dot is an English feminine given name, usually a short form of Dorothy. Dorothy is the English form of the Greek Dōrothea (Δωροθέα), a compound of dōron (δῶρον), "gift," and theos (θεός), "God." The literal meaning is "gift of God." As a diminutive, Dot carries that same meaning rather than having a separate ancient etymology of its own. The English common noun dot, "a small round mark," is a different word, not related to Dorothy. It may influence modern use of Dot as a standalone name, but it is not the source of the name's traditional meaning.
Dot Name History & Origins
Dot arose in English as an affectionate nickname for Dorothy. Dorothy was the English form of Dorothea, a name borne by Saint Dorothea of Caesarea, a fourth-century martyr venerated in the Eastern and Western churches. The saint's cult helped keep forms of the name in use in medieval Europe, and Dorothy became an established English given name. From Dorothy, English speakers created several short forms, including Doll, Dolly, Dora, and Dot. In the 19th century, Dot appears as a literary pet name: Charles Dickens used it for a character in The Cricket on the Hearth (1845). Later it was also used on its own as a given name.
How Popular is the Name Dot?
Dot recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1935. Its best rank was #733 in 1888.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,017 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2024 | #11,329 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #15,804 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #9,873 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #15,874 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #12,487 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #14,264 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #10,795 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #6,203 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #5,467 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #4,070 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #4,078 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #3,252 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #3,015 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #3,134 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #3,528 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #5,466 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #5,312 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #5,901 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #3,080 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #4,994 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #4,422 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #3,447 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #2,519 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #2,801 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #2,044 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1945 | #1,893 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1944 | #1,928 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1943 | #2,368 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1942 | #2,064 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1941 | #1,453 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1940 | #1,529 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1939 | #1,381 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1938 | #1,274 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1937 | #1,287 | 32 | 0.0030% |
| 1936 | #1,514 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1935 | #1,020 | 46 | 0.0044% |
| 1934 | #1,104 | 41 | 0.0039% |
| 1933 | #1,039 | 45 | 0.0045% |
| 1932 | #1,179 | 37 | 0.0035% |
| 1931 | #1,048 | 45 | 0.0042% |
| 1930 | #1,376 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1929 | #1,317 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1928 | #1,137 | 45 | 0.0039% |
| 1927 | #1,308 | 37 | 0.0031% |
| 1926 | #1,248 | 39 | 0.0033% |
| 1925 | #1,619 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1924 | #1,651 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1923 | #1,400 | 33 | 0.0027% |
| 1922 | #1,913 | 21 | 0.0017% |
| 1921 | #1,521 | 30 | 0.0024% |
| 1920 | #1,520 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1919 | #1,762 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1918 | #1,980 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #1,791 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1916 | #1,969 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1915 | #2,290 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1914 | #2,157 | 11 | 0.0014% |
| 1913 | #2,065 | 10 | 0.0016% |
| 1912 | #2,722 | 6 | 0.0011% |
| 1910 | #1,551 | 10 | 0.0025% |
| 1909 | #2,024 | 6 | 0.0017% |
| 1908 | #1,576 | 8 | 0.0024% |
| 1907 | #1,418 | 9 | 0.0028% |
| 1906 | #1,601 | 7 | 0.0024% |
| 1905 | #2,018 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| 1904 | #1,526 | 7 | 0.0025% |
| 1903 | #1,863 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1902 | #1,858 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1901 | #1,084 | 10 | 0.0042% |
| 1900 | #1,184 | 11 | 0.0037% |
| 1898 | #1,285 | 8 | 0.0031% |
| 1897 | #1,291 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1896 | #1,459 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| 1895 | #1,218 | 8 | 0.0034% |
| 1894 | #1,545 | 5 | 0.0022% |
| 1893 | #1,033 | 9 | 0.0042% |
| 1892 | #974 | 10 | 0.0047% |
| 1891 | #1,126 | 7 | 0.0038% |
| 1889 | #853 | 10 | 0.0056% |
| 1888 | #733 | 13 | 0.0073% |
| 1887 | #1,186 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| 1886 | #1,149 | 5 | 0.0035% |
| 1883 | #847 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | #4,354 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1925 | #4,375 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #4,514 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #3,258 | 7 | 0.0008% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Dot Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Dot's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Dot's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.