Douglass Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Douglass originates from Scottish Gaelic, meaning 'black stream', and has evolved from Dubhglas to its modern forms. It is associated with the historic Douglas clan in Scotland, which adds a sense of strength and heritage. There is no direct biblical relevance. The name gained popularity in the 14th century and remains recognized today, with notable figures like Frederick Douglass contributing to its legacy.
The name Douglass is most popular in Maryland, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast 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, Douglass 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, 'Douglass' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1147th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 865th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 714th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 894th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1823rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6646th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11534th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7673rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 8072nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Douglass' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Douglass"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʌɡləs/
Origin
Scottish
Etymology
The name Douglass is derived from the Scottish Gaelic elements 'dubh' meaning 'black' and 'glas' meaning 'stream' or 'river'. It originally referred to someone who lived near a dark stream or river.
Meaning
black stream
Language Evolution
Dubhglas, Douglass, Douglas
Historical Usage
The name Douglass gained popularity in the 14th century in Scotland, particularly after the rise of the Douglas clan.
Variants & Derivatives
Douglas, Douglash, Doug
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Douglass is viewed as traditional and carries connotations of strength and history due to its association with the notable Douglas clan.
Famous People
Frederick Douglass, William Douglass, Sir James Douglas
Explore More Douglass Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Douglass"
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 "Douglass"
"Douglass" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1147th of 7545 | 604 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 865th of 6773 | 986 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 714th of 7552 | 1,977 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 894th of 10718 | 1,313 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1823rd of 16616 | 633 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6646th of 24088 | 171 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 11534th of 23106 | 55 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7673rd of 9107 | 11 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 8072nd of 9204 | 10 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Douglass" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
64.76% 893rd/1379 |
67.37% 1594th/2366 |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
54.59% 844th/1546 |
40.17% 625th/1556 |
53.04% 1248th/2353 |
48.55% 751st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
30.53% 680th/2227 |
23.87% 580th/2430 |
34.74% 991st/2853 |
24.97% 693rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
29.66% 871st/2937 |
21.42% 746th/3483 |
37.83% 1331st/3518 |
24.16% 977th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
55.28% 2037th/3685 |
42.28% 1892nd/4475 |
53.58% 2783rd/5194 |
36.44% 2302nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Douglass" 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 "Douglass"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Douglass" 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.