Doris Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Doris has Greek origins, meaning 'a gift' or referring to sea nymphs. It evolved through Ancient Greek and Latin into modern English. Doris is characterized by its classic and nostalgic traits, with no biblical relevance. It became popular in the 19th century and is associated with notable figures like Doris Day and Doris Lessing.
The name Doris is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Doris has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Doris' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 770th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 686th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1694th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4071st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11250th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 16th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 17th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 108th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 343rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 855th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1980th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2053rd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Doris' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Doris"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɔːrɪs/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Doris is derived from the Greek word 'Doris', which refers to a district in ancient Greece, and is also associated with the sea due to its connection to the Nereids, sea nymphs in Greek mythology.
Meaning
a gift, a sea nymph
Language Evolution
Doris (Ancient Greek), Doris (Latin), Doris (English)
Historical Usage
The name Doris gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, particularly in the Victorian era, when classical names were revived.
Variants & Derivatives
Dora, Dorie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Doris is viewed as a classic name that evokes a sense of nostalgia and is often associated with vintage charm. It has seen a decline in popularity but remains cherished by those who appreciate traditional names.
Famous People
Doris Day, Doris Lessing, Doris Kearns Goodwin
Explore More Doris Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Doris"
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 "Doris"
"Doris" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 770th of 7545 | 1,189 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 686th of 6773 | 1,490 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1694th of 7552 | 409 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4071st of 10718 | 104 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 11250th of 16616 | 23 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 16th of 9107 | 179,064 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 17th of 9204 | 185,024 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 108th of 12526 | 77,657 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 343rd of 19264 | 11,420 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 855th of 27321 | 3,460 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1980th of 35406 | 1,545 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2053rd of 30306 | 1,126 |
Regional Popularity of "Doris" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
58.90% 834th/1416 |
65.26% 900th/1379 |
25.61% 606th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
54.46% 842nd/1546 |
54.11% 842nd/1556 |
22.99% 541st/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
58.29% 1663rd/2853 |
- |
| 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 "Doris" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
0.78% 11th/1416 |
1.38% 19th/1379 |
1.06% 25th/2366 |
1.31% 15th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
1.88% 29th/1546 |
1.54% 24th/1556 |
0.47% 11th/2353 |
2.59% 40th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
6.02% 134th/2227 |
5.43% 132nd/2430 |
2.07% 59th/2853 |
6.56% 182nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
13.72% 403rd/2937 |
8.99% 313th/3483 |
7.53% 265th/3518 |
12.71% 514th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
26.92% 992nd/3685 |
15.62% 699th/4475 |
16.58% 861st/5194 |
13.66% 863rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
56.46% 2587th/4582 |
32.78% 1693rd/5164 |
28.57% 2089th/7313 |
22.91% 1710th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
74.77% 2979th/3984 |
35.48% 1592nd/4487 |
46.63% 3181st/6822 |
22.29% 1399th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Doris"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Doris" 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.