answer:According to Wikipedia: “An early recorded use of the term “polka dot” is in 1873 in Godey’s magazine, Volumes 86–87, Page 389. The pattern is named for the dance of the same name, but there is no conceptual connection linking the pattern to the dance. Instead, the name was settled upon because of the dance’s popularity at the time the pattern became fashionable. Many contemporary products and fashions also adopted the name.” Thanks for asking this. I never actually stopped to think about it, but it is pretty odd. There’s nothing particularly polka-like about polka dots to me.