Dorothea

Derived from the Greek Dorothea, combining doron (gift) and theos (god), forming the inverse of Theodora. It circulated across northern Europe before settling into American usage throughout the late nineteenth century. By the twentieth century, it became a slightly less hurried alternative to the ubiquitous Dorothy.

The name suggests heavy stationery and wool coats that have outlived three owners. It sounds older than it currently is, largely because its peak sits more than a century in the past. Hearers often brace for a woman who will quietly point out a cataloging error.