Dora Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DOR-uh //ˈdɔːrə//
Origin: Greek; Latin
Meaning: Greek: gift; Latin: woman
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Dora has its roots in the Greek language, derived from the word 'doron,' meaning 'gift.' This etymology is significant as it underscores the name's association with the concept of giving or a divine gift. The name evolved through various forms, including the Latin 'Dora,' which was used in early Christian texts.
It entered the English language primarily through the influence of Greek and Latin, particularly during the Renaissance when classical names were revived in Europe. Historically, the name Dora has been associated with several notable figures and literary works.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name can be traced back to the 4th century, with Saint Dorothea, a Christian martyr whose name means 'gift of God.' The name gained further prominence in the 19th century with the publication of Charles Dickens's novel "David Copperfield" (1850), in which a character named Dora is featured, embodying the traits of innocence and charm. Additionally, the name appears in various forms in classical literature and has been used in different cultures, often as a diminutive of names such as Theodora or Isadora.
Culturally, Dora has resonated through various traditions and has been embraced in different languages and regions. In some cultures, it symbolizes purity and kindness, reinforcing its appeal across generations.
The name has also been associated with the idea of a 'gift,' which has contributed to its enduring presence in literature and art. The diminutive form 'Dori' has also been used, though it is less common historically.
Overall, the name Dora encapsulates a rich linguistic heritage and a legacy of cultural significance that has allowed it to persist through the ages.
Famous people named Dora
In this section, you will find notable people named Dora. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Dora who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Dora who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Dora the Explorer is a fictional character best known for the children's animated television series Dora the Explorer.
Dora Maar was a photographer and painter best known for her relationship with Pablo Picasso and her surrealist works.
Dora Milaje is a fictional group of characters best known for their appearances in Marvel Comics and the Black Panther films.
Fictional characters named Dora
The following list of fictional characters named Dora is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Dora the Explorer is a fictional character from the animated television series Dora the Explorer. She is a young Latina girl who embarks on adventures with her talking backpack and monkey friend Boots, teaching children problem-solving skills along the way.
Dora is a fictional character from the video game series Danganronpa. She is a key figure in the narrative, known for her intelligence and strategic thinking in the high-stakes environment of the killing game.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Dora, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Dora. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Dora was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Dora has ranked as high as #215 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, North Carolina, and Kentucky.
In the past 5 years the name Dora has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Dora is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Dora was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Dora (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 14 | |
| NY | 8 | |
| TX | 8 | |
| OH | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Dora.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 67 |
| 2023 | 68 |
| 2022 | 71 |
| 2021 | 82 |
| 2020 | 73 |
| 2019 | 102 |
| 2018 | 75 |
| 2017 | 100 |
| 2016 | 111 |
| 2015 | 101 |
| 2014 | 88 |
| 2013 | 78 |
| 2012 | 93 |
| 2011 | 87 |
| 2010 | 83 |
| 2009 | 102 |
| 2008 | 92 |
| 2007 | 100 |
| 2006 | 141 |
| 2005 | 155 |
| 2004 | 165 |
| 2003 | 169 |
| 2002 | 164 |
| 2001 | 166 |
| 2000 | 127 |
| 1999 | 166 |
| 1998 | 147 |
| 1997 | 170 |
| 1996 | 173 |
| 1995 | 167 |
| 1994 | 161 |
| 1993 | 167 |
| 1992 | 197 |
| 1991 | 194 |
| 1990 | 192 |
| 1989 | 195 |
| 1988 | 215 |
| 1987 | 210 |
| 1986 | 196 |
| 1985 | 232 |
| 1984 | 234 |
| 1983 | 238 |
| 1982 | 273 |
| 1981 | 284 |
| 1980 | 301 |
| 1979 | 294 |
| 1978 | 296 |
| 1977 | 296 |
| 1976 | 400 |
| 1975 | 407 |
| 1974 | 392 |
| 1973 | 385 |
| 1972 | 456 |
| 1971 | 478 |
| 1970 | 537 |
| 1969 | 519 |
| 1968 | 547 |
| 1967 | 596 |
| 1966 | 663 |
| 1965 | 724 |
| 1964 | 882 |
| 1963 | 853 |
| 1962 | 841 |
| 1961 | 868 |
| 1960 | 925 |
| 1959 | 895 |
| 1958 | 862 |
| 1957 | 954 |
| 1956 | 991 |
| 1955 | 910 |
| 1954 | 905 |
| 1953 | 918 |
| 1952 | 926 |
| 1951 | 1,028 |
| 1950 | 896 |
| 1949 | 924 |
| 1948 | 1,023 |
| 1947 | 1,041 |
| 1946 | 943 |
| 1945 | 882 |
| 1944 | 923 |
| 1943 | 1,022 |
| 1942 | 969 |
| 1941 | 951 |
| 1940 | 1,039 |
| 1939 | 1,045 |
| 1938 | 1,134 |
| 1937 | 1,086 |
| 1936 | 1,163 |
| 1935 | 1,169 |
| 1934 | 1,252 |
| 1933 | 1,242 |
| 1932 | 1,434 |
| 1931 | 1,364 |
| 1930 | 1,498 |
| 1929 | 1,584 |
| 1928 | 1,640 |
| 1927 | 1,789 |
| 1926 | 1,774 |
| 1925 | 1,945 |
| 1924 | 2,000 |
| 1923 | 1,904 |
| 1922 | 1,807 |
| 1921 | 2,026 |
| 1920 | 1,865 |
| 1919 | 1,835 |
| 1918 | 1,738 |
| 1917 | 1,740 |
| 1916 | 1,725 |
| 1915 | 1,666 |
| 1914 | 1,343 |
| 1913 | 1,183 |
| 1912 | 1,061 |
| 1911 | 888 |
| 1910 | 833 |
| 1909 | 829 |
| 1908 | 806 |
| 1907 | 786 |
| 1906 | 761 |
| 1905 | 757 |
| 1904 | 788 |
| 1903 | 778 |
| 1902 | 780 |
| 1901 | 768 |
| 1900 | 958 |
| 1899 | 718 |
| 1898 | 929 |
| 1897 | 862 |
| 1896 | 874 |
| 1895 | 884 |
| 1894 | 827 |
| 1893 | 877 |
| 1892 | 960 |
| 1891 | 870 |
| 1890 | 883 |
| 1889 | 882 |
| 1888 | 898 |
| 1887 | 842 |
| 1886 | 827 |
| 1885 | 776 |
| 1884 | 720 |
| 1883 | 640 |
| 1882 | 594 |
| 1881 | 585 |
| 1880 | 524 |