Find out how popular the first name Dorcas has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Dorcas by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Dorcas is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 22 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Dorcas.

The history of the first name Dorcas

The name Dorcas originates from the Ancient Greek language and culture. It derives from the Greek word "dorkás" which means "gazelle" or "doe". The name can be traced back to the 1st century AD.

In the Christian New Testament, the book of Acts mentions a woman named Dorcas who lived in the ancient city of Joppa (modern-day Jaffa, Israel). She was known for her charitable works and good deeds, particularly making clothes for widows. After her death, the apostle Peter miraculously resurrected her.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Dorcas is from the 1st century AD Christian martyr, Saint Dorcas. Little is known about her life, except that she suffered martyrdom during the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan in the early 2nd century.

In the 16th century, Dorcas was a relatively common name among Puritans and English Protestant families. A notable bearer was Dorcas Braithwaite (1623-1685), an English Quaker missionary who traveled extensively in the American colonies.

Another historical figure named Dorcas was Dorcas Carey (1779-1855), the wife of the English Baptist missionary William Carey. She accompanied her husband to India and assisted him in his missionary work, including establishing schools for women and girls.

In the 19th century, Dorcas Societies became popular in many churches, named after the biblical Dorcas. These were charitable organizations run by women who made clothing and other items for the poor and needy.

A more recent example is Dorcas Reilly (1916-2013), an American inventor and kitchen gadget designer. She is best known for creating the green plastic "Dorcas" bean slicer and other kitchen tools.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dorcas was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dorcas, please contact us.

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