Dot Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: dot /dɒt/
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: Gift of God; Latin: Given
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Dot is derived from the name Dorothy, which has its roots in the Greek name Dōrothea, meaning "gift of God." The Greek components are "dōron," meaning "gift," and "theos," meaning "God." This name was adopted into Latin as Dorothea and subsequently made its way into Old French as Dorette, before evolving into the English Dorothy. The diminutive form Dot emerged as a familiar and affectionate variant, particularly in English-speaking cultures, during the 19th century.
Historically, the name Dorothy has been borne by several notable figures, including Saint Dorothy of Caesarea, a Christian martyr from the 4th century, whose story contributed to the name's enduring popularity in Christian contexts. The name gained further prominence through literary works, such as in the 19th-century novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L.
Frank Baum, where the character Dorothy Gale became an iconic figure in American literature. The name's association with virtue and piety, particularly through its saintly connections, has reinforced its cultural significance over the centuries.
The use of Dot as a diminutive form reflects a broader tradition in English of creating affectionate nicknames from longer names. This practice often imbues the shorter forms with a sense of intimacy and familiarity.
Dot, while simple, carries with it the historical weight of its origins and the cultural narratives surrounding its root name, Dorothy. The name has thus maintained a presence in various cultural contexts, symbolizing the qualities of kindness and warmth associated with its longer form.
Famous people named Dot
In this section, you will find notable people named Dot. 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 Dot who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Dot 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.
Dot Jones is an actress best known for Glee, The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, and The Twilight Zone.
Dot Richardson is a former softball player best known for winning two Olympic gold medals and being a two-time World Champion.
Fictional characters named Dot
The following list of fictional characters named Dot 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.
Dot is a fictional character from the animated film A Bug's Life. She is a young and brave ant who plays a crucial role in helping her colony.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Dot, 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 Dot. 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 Dot was first seen in the United States in 1883.
Dot has ranked as high as #1871 nationally, which occurred in 1935, and has been most popular in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Dot has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Dot 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 Dot was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Dot.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2022 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2018 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1964 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1963 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1962 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1961 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1960 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1959 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1958 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1957 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1956 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1954 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1953 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1952 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1951 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1950 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1949 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1948 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1947 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1946 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1945 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 1944 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 1943 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1942 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1941 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| 1940 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| 1939 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| 1938 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1937 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
| 1936 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1935 | 46 | 0 | 46 |
| 1934 | 41 | 0 | 41 |
| 1933 | 45 | 0 | 45 |
| 1932 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1931 | 45 | 0 | 45 |
| 1930 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1929 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1928 | 45 | 0 | 45 |
| 1927 | 42 | 5 | 37 |
| 1926 | 39 | 0 | 39 |
| 1925 | 32 | 5 | 27 |
| 1924 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| 1923 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1922 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1921 | 35 | 5 | 30 |
| 1920 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| 1919 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1918 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1917 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 1916 | 24 | 7 | 17 |
| 1915 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1914 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1913 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1912 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1910 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1909 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1908 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1907 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1906 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1905 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1904 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1903 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1902 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1901 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1900 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1898 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1897 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1896 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1895 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1894 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1893 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1892 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1891 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1889 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1888 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1887 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1886 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1883 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Top States for Dot (1944)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| SC | 5 |