Doran Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Doran originates from Irish and is derived from the Gaelic surname O'Dubhrain, meaning 'descendant of Dubhran'. It relates to the concept of being a stranger or visitor and has a connection to dark hair. The name has evolved through historical forms like O'Dubhrain to its current form. While it does not have biblical relevance, it gained popularity in the 19th century and has a positive, culturally rich image today. Notable figures associated with the name include fictional characters and poets.
The name Doran is most popular in Iowa, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Doran has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Doran' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1820th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1512th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1219th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1654th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2658th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4667th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8125th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8318th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 16521st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 20558th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Doran' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Doran"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɔːrən/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Doran is derived from the Gaelic surname 'O'Dubhrain', which means 'descendant of Dubhran'. The root 'dubh' means 'dark' or 'black', and 'ran' is a diminutive or affectionate suffix.
Meaning
stranger, visitor, dark-haired
Language Evolution
O'Dubhrain, Doran
Historical Usage
Doran has been used as a given name in Ireland and among Irish communities since at least the 19th century, but it has gained broader recognition and popularity in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Variants & Derivatives
Dore, Dorran
Modern Popularity & Image
Doran is viewed as a unique and culturally rich name, often associated with Irish heritage. It has a gentle and approachable image.
Famous People
Doran Gray - a fictional character from Oscar Wilde's novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', Doran K. - a noted Irish poet
📊 Doran Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Doran Name Visualizations
✨ Doran Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 53 peak births in 1956
Geographic Spread
Popular across 8 US states, with strongest presence in Iowa
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 10 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Doran"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Doran"
"Doran" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1820th of 7545 | 291 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1512th of 6773 | 387 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1219th of 7552 | 742 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1654th of 10718 | 460 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2658th of 16616 | 369 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4667th of 24088 | 288 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 8125th of 23106 | 109 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8318th of 12526 | 29 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 16521st of 19264 | 10 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 20558th of 27321 | 16 |
Regional Popularity of "Doran" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
62.87% 972nd/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
45.44% 1012th/2227 |
64.77% 1574th/2430 |
- |
39.82% 1105th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
55.90% 1947th/3483 |
- |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
44.15% 2789th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
62.03% 4629th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
74.46% 5080th/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Doran" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Doran"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Doran" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.