Dorcas Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Dorcas is a name of Greek origin meaning 'gazelle'. It has evolved from the ancient Greek 'dorkas' and is primarily known from its biblical use in the New Testament, where it signifies a person known for good works. The name has historical significance within Christian communities and is associated with traits of kindness and charity. While less common today, it retains a positive perception linked to its biblical background.
The name Dorcas is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. 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, Dorcas has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Dorcas' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 686th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 786th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1144th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1908th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3293rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5559th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5055th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Dorcas' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dorcas"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɔːrkəs/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Dorcas is derived from the Greek word 'dorkas', which means 'gazelle'. In the New Testament, it is used to refer to a woman known for her good deeds and acts of charity.
Meaning
gazelle
Language Evolution
Dorcas (Greek), Dorkas (Ancient Greek)
Biblical Background
The name Dorcas appears in the Bible in the Book of Acts, where she is described as a disciple known for her charitable works.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity among Christians due to its biblical association, particularly during the early centuries of Christianity when names from the New Testament were widely adopted.
Variants & Derivatives
Dorkas, Dorcasita
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Dorcas is less common but is often viewed positively, associated with kindness and generosity due to its biblical roots.
Famous People
Dorcas D. H. K. G. M. Wong, Dorcas M. A. P. K. Lee
Explore More Dorcas Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dorcas"
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 "Dorcas"
"Dorcas" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 686th of 9107 | 1,990 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 786th of 9204 | 1,525 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1144th of 12526 | 1,537 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1908th of 19264 | 746 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3293rd of 27321 | 496 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 5559th of 35406 | 359 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5055th of 30306 | 314 |
Regional Popularity of "Dorcas" by Generation for Male 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) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Dorcas" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
41.74% 591st/1416 |
38.43% 530th/1379 |
31.61% 748th/2366 |
100.00% 1142nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
49.68% 768th/1546 |
41.07% 639th/1556 |
36.17% 851st/2353 |
84.16% 1302nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
53.03% 1181st/2227 |
39.34% 956th/2430 |
40.17% 1146th/2853 |
54.20% 1504th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 2937th/2937 |
40.48% 1410th/3483 |
67.20% 2364th/3518 |
100.00% 4044th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
47.02% 2104th/4475 |
- |
80.86% 5108th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 4582nd/4582 |
72.93% 3766th/5164 |
- | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
84.49% 3366th/3984 |
94.54% 4242nd/4487 |
84.54% 5767th/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Dorcas"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dorcas" 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.