Dom
A masculine name derived from the Latin "dominus," meaning "lord" or "master."
Name Census estimates that about 321 living Americans carry the first name Dom. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Dom today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dom births was 2024 (29 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dom. 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.
People living today
321
~ 1 in 1,067,771 Americans
Peak year
2024
29 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,811
Tracked since 1928
Popularity
Dom: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dom from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 100 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dom 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 Dom during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Doms live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Florida, New York, Massachusetts recorded the most babies named Dom, while Massachusetts, New York, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 15 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dom
The name Dom has its origins in the Latin language, specifically derived from the word "dominus," which means "lord" or "master." This name has been in use since ancient Roman times and has maintained a strong presence throughout various cultures and historical periods.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dom can be found in the writings of Roman historians and literary works. The name was often associated with individuals of high social standing, reflecting the meaning of "lord" or "master." In the context of ancient Rome, the name may have been bestowed upon members of noble families or those who held positions of authority.
During the Middle Ages, the name Dom continued to be used, particularly within religious contexts. It was commonly adopted by monks and clergy members, often as a title or honorific prefix denoting their spiritual authority or rank within the church hierarchy. Numerous abbots, bishops, and other ecclesiastical figures bore the name Dom during this period.
In the Renaissance era, the name Dom gained popularity among the nobility and aristocracy across Europe. Several notable figures from this time period carried the name, including Dom João III, the 15th king of Portugal, who reigned from 1521 to 1557 and oversaw the expansion of Portuguese explorations and the establishment of colonial territories in Africa and Asia.
Another prominent individual bearing the name Dom was Dom Pedro II, the second and last emperor of Brazil, who ruled from 1831 to 1889. He was known for his progressive policies, including the abolition of slavery and the promotion of education and scientific advancement.
In the world of literature, Dom Quixote, the famous fictional character created by Miguel de Cervantes in his novel "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha," published in 1605, has become an iconic figure associated with the name. The character's full name, Don Quixote, is a Spanish adaptation of the same Latin root as Dom.
Moving into the 20th century, one notable figure bearing the name Dom was Dom Helder Camara, a Brazilian Roman Catholic Archbishop known for his tireless advocacy for human rights and social justice. He played a significant role in the Catholic Church's efforts to address poverty and inequality in Latin America during the 1960s and 1970s.
Another influential figure was Dom Mintoff, a Maltese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Malta for several terms between 1955 and 1998. He was a prominent leader in the country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule and played a pivotal role in shaping Malta's modern identity.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Dom, reflecting its enduring presence and significance across various cultures and time periods.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Dom
People
Dom + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dom 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
Dom: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dom?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 321 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dom 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 1,067,771 US residents.
Is Dom a common name?
We classify Dom as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 392 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dom most popular?
The single biggest year for Dom was 2024, when 29 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dom is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dom a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dom in the SSA data are male. 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.
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.