Dorinda

Meaning of Dorinda

Dorinda is a feminine given name constructed from the Greek element doron, meaning “gift,” combined with the suffix -inda, a morphological device common to European pastoral romances of the late Renaissance. It first appears in English literature—most notably in Robert Greene’s Menaphon and in the pastoral dramas later adapted by John Dryden—highlighting its deliberate origin as a literary coinage. Pronounced “doh-RIN-də” in modern English, Dorinda experienced sporadic but measurable use in mid-20th-century Florida, with annual counts of five to twelve registrations and a highest state rank of 117 in 1944. While it has never risen into the national top tiers, the name’s precise etymology and established literary pedigree provide a technically sound choice for parents seeking a distinctive yet historically grounded option.