Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Dora
GirlGreek· “gift”
- Meaning
- gift
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- DAWR-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,388
- US babies 2025
- 75
- Best rank
- #46 (1881)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Dora
Dora is a Greek name that means “gift”.
Dora is a Greek name meaning gift, from the word doron. It has also long served as a short form of names like Dorothy, Theodora and Isidora, all built on the same root. In literature, Dora Spenlow is the first wife of the title character in Charles Dickens's David Copperfield. Dora was popular in English-speaking countries in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and has a gentle, vintage feel. It is usually pronounced DOR-uh. Many people today also know the name from a popular children's cartoon.
Popularity over time
Dora has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 113 different years. Its best national rank was #46 in 1881, and the most babies received it in 1921, when 2,026 were named Dora. In 2025, 75 babies were named Dora, and it ranked #2,388 nationally. That is 26% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #133 in 1920, #252 in 1950, #610 in 1980, #1,435 in 2000, #2,300 in 2010, and #2,388 in 2025. Of the 105,930 US girls named Dora since records began, 17% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 14,012 babies. Since 2010, 1,356 more have been named Dora.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Inez, Hilda, Eunice, Lula, and Harriet.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Dora ranked highest in New York, California, and Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #1101 | 13 |
| California | #1601 | 14 |
| Texas | #3427 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Dora is usually pronounced DAWR-uh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with D and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Dora
A few middle names that flow with Dora: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dora
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Lists that include Dora
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dora mean?
Dora is a Greek name that means “gift”.
What is the origin of the name Dora?
Dora has Greek roots. Dora is a Greek name meaning gift, from the word doron.
Is Dora a popular name?
Not especially. Dora ranked #2,388 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Dora a boy or girl name?
Dora is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Dora?
Dora is usually pronounced DAWR-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings