Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Dory
GirlGreek, English· “pet form of Dorothy or Doris”
- Meaning
- pet form of Dorothy or Doris
- Origin
- Greek, English
- Pronunciation
- DOR-ee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #12,248
- US babies 2025
- 7
- Best rank
- #2,045 (1964)
- Peak year
- 1964
Meaning and origin of Dory
Dory is a Greek and English name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Dorothy or Doris”.
Dory is a pet form of Dorothy, from the Greek for gift of God, or of Doris, a Greek name for a woman from the region of Doris. It is also an English word for a small flat-bottomed fishing boat and the name of a fish, the John Dory. As a given name it has been used for girls since the nineteenth century, and occasionally for boys as a short form of Isidore. It is said DOR-ee. Dori and Dorrie are related spellings. The name has a friendly, seaside feel and a light, playful sound.
Other spellings with the same sound: Dori, Dorie, Dorrie.
Popularity over time
Dory first appears in US Social Security records in 1946. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,045 in 1964, the same year it reached its highest count of 34 babies. In 2025, 7 babies were named Dory, and it ranked #12,248 nationally.
Its national rank moved from #3,277 in 1950, #4,378 in 1980, #11,024 in 2000, and #12,248 in 2025. Of the 968 US girls named Dory since records began, 24% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 207 babies. Since 2010, 62 more have been named Dory.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Eugena, Felicita, Monalisa, Jeanett, and Lavetta.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Dory is usually pronounced DOR-ee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with D and ends in “-ry”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Dori, Dorie, and Dorrie.
Middle names for Dory
A few middle names that flow with Dory: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dory
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Lists that include Dory
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dory mean?
Dory is a Greek and English name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Dorothy or Doris”.
What is the origin of the name Dory?
Dory has Greek and English roots. Dory is a pet form of Dorothy, from the Greek for gift of God, or of Doris, a Greek name for a woman from the region of Doris.
Is Dory a popular name?
Not especially. Dory ranked #12,248 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Dory a boy or girl name?
Dory is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Dory?
Dory is usually pronounced DOR-ee. 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