The first name Dora
A girl’s name from Greek.
Pronounced /ˈdoɹ.ə/ 2 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
A diminutive of Dorothy used since early 19th century. Sometimes also short for Theodora or Isidora.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 25 girls were named Dora, making it the 1,271st most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2018, with 38 births (#952).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Dora with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Dora at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 75 girls born in the United States were named Dora, the 2,388th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1921, when 2,026 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Dora
28 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Dora PejačevićCroatian composer (1885–1923)
- Dora BoothbyEnglish badminton and tennis player (1881–1970)
- Dora CarringtonBritish painter, photographer and decorative artist (1893–1932)
- Dora GabeBulgarian poet, 1885–1983
- Dora BryanBritish actress of stage, film and television (1923-2014)
- Dora RussellBritish writer, feminist and socialist campaigner (1894-1986)
- Dora RatjenGerman high jumper (1918–2008)
- Dora GersonGerman actress (1899-1943)
- Dora MarsdenFeminist, journal editor, author (1882–1960)
- Dora DollFrench actress (1922–2015)
- Dora HitzCourt painter to the Romanian royal family (1856-1924)
- Dora KallmusAustrian photographer (1881-1963)
More Greek girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Dora mean?
- A diminutive of Dorothy used since early 19th century. Sometimes also short for Theodora or Isidora.
- What is the origin of the name Dora?
- A diminutive of Dorothy used since early 19th century. Sometimes also short for Theodora or Isidora.
- How popular is the name Dora?
- In 2025, 25 girls born in England and Wales were named Dora, ranking 1,271st. Its peak was 2018, with 38 births.
- Is Dora a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 99% of the 106,480 US babies named Dora since 1880 were girls.
- When was Dora most popular?
- 1921 in the United States, when 2,026 babies were named Dora, its highest rank at 130th.
- How do you pronounce Dora?
- Dora is /ˈdoɹ.ə/, 2 syllables.
- Is Dora also a surname?
- Yes. Dora is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.