Dolphine
Small toothed whale known for its friendliness and intelligence.
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Dolphine. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dolphine today is around 77 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dolphine births was 1921 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dolphine. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Dolphine is about 77 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Dolphines were born before 1959.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dolphine. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1921
6 babies that year
Average age
77
years old
1962 SSA rank
#6,822
Tracked since 1921
Popularity
Dolphine: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dolphine from the 1920s through to the 1960s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 10 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Dolphine remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dolphine by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dolphine during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dolphine
The given name Dolphine is derived from the Greek word "delphinos," which means "dolphin." This name has its origins in ancient Greek culture, where dolphins were revered as sacred animals associated with the sea god Poseidon. The name was likely first used as a reference to the dolphin's graceful and playful nature.
In ancient Greek mythology, there are several tales involving dolphins and their relationship with humans. One of the most famous stories is that of Arion, a talented lyric poet from the 7th century BC, who was saved by a dolphin after being thrown overboard by pirates. This story highlights the ancient Greeks' belief in the intelligence and benevolence of dolphins.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Dolphine can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, where it was occasionally used as a feminine name. One notable figure from this era was Dolphine of Constantinople, a wealthy noblewoman who lived in the 11th century and was known for her philanthropic endeavors.
During the Middle Ages, the name Dolphine gained popularity in certain regions of Europe, particularly in France and Italy. In 1346, a woman named Dolphine de Viennois became the Countess of Valentinois and Diois, demonstrating the name's use among the nobility of that time.
In the 16th century, a French noblewoman named Dolphine de Lheritier was a prominent poet and literary figure. She was part of the influential de Lheritier family and contributed to the French Renaissance with her works.
Another notable figure with the name Dolphine was Dolphine de Malherbe, who lived in the 17th century. She was the daughter of the renowned French poet François de Malherbe and is remembered for her own literary contributions.
Throughout history, the name Dolphine has remained relatively uncommon, but it has been used across various cultures and regions, often associated with nobility, literary circles, and a connection to the natural world, particularly the sea and dolphins themselves.
People
Dolphine + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dolphine as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dolphine: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dolphine?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dolphine going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Dolphine a common name?
We classify Dolphine as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 26 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dolphine most popular?
The single biggest year for Dolphine was 1921, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dolphine is about 77 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Dolphine in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dolphine a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dolphine in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Dolphine still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dolphine in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Dolphine can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Dolphine?
See how many people have the name Dolphine on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.