Doras
From Greek origins, meaning "gift" or "present".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Doras. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Doras today is around 78 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Doras births was 1923 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Doras. 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 Doras is about 78 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Doras' were born before 1958.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Doras. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1923
7 babies that year
Average age
78
years old
1935 SSA rank
#4,375
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Doras: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Doras from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 23 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Doras remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Doras 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 Doras 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 Doras
The name Doras is believed to have originated from the Greek language, derived from the word "doron," which means "gift." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to children who were considered a gift or blessing.
In ancient Greek mythology, there was a character named Doras, who was a son of the river god Peneios. He was mentioned in various texts and stories, further reinforcing the Greek roots of this name.
The earliest recorded use of the name Doras dates back to ancient Greece, where it was a relatively uncommon name but still appeared in historical records and inscriptions from that time period.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Doras was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 5th century BC. He was a follower of the teachings of Socrates and was known for his works on ethics and virtue.
Another notable figure named Doras was a Greek soldier who fought in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) between Athens and Sparta. He was mentioned in historical accounts for his bravery and military prowess.
In the Middle Ages, there was a Doras who was a Byzantine scholar and theologian. He lived in the 12th century and was known for his writings on religious subjects and his contributions to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
During the Renaissance period, a Italian artist named Doras was active in the 16th century. He was a painter and sculptor known for his works that depicted religious and mythological themes.
In more recent history, there was a Greek poet and playwright named Doras who lived in the 19th century (1820-1892). He was celebrated for his contributions to modern Greek literature and his efforts to revive the use of the ancient Greek language in his works.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Doras, reflecting its Greek origins and its presence across various time periods and cultures influenced by the Greek language and traditions.
People
Doras + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Doras 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
Doras: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Doras?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Doras 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Doras a common name?
We classify Doras as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 51 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Doras most popular?
The single biggest year for Doras was 1923, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Doras is about 78 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 Doras in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Doras a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Doras 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 Doras still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Doras 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 Doras 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 have Doras as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Doras on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.