Dorce
Feminine form of Greek name Dorokles, meaning "glory to the people".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Dorce. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Dorce today is around 101 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dorce births was 1940 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dorce. 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 Dorce is about 101 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Dorces were born before 1935.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dorce. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1940
6 babies that year
Average age
101
years old
1940 SSA rank
#3,219
Tracked since 1940
Popularity
Dorce: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Dorce 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 Dorce during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Dorce
The given name Dorce has its origins in the ancient Greek language, with roots dating back to the classical period of ancient Greece. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word "dorkas," which translates to "gazelle" or "deer." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with grace, agility, or natural beauty.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dorce can be found in the works of the ancient Greek philosopher and historian, Plutarch. In his writings, he mentions a woman named Dorce who lived during the 1st century AD and was known for her wisdom and intelligence. Unfortunately, not much is known about her life beyond this brief reference.
During the Byzantine era, the name Dorce gained popularity among the Greek-speaking population of the Eastern Roman Empire. It was particularly prevalent in the regions of Anatolia and the Greek islands. Several historical figures from this period bore the name, including Dorce of Ephesus, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 5th century AD.
In the Middle Ages, the name Dorce spread to other parts of Europe, particularly in the regions influenced by the Byzantine Empire. One notable bearer of the name was Dorce of Antioch, a 12th-century noblewoman and patron of the arts, who played a significant role in the cultural exchange between the Byzantine and Crusader states.
Throughout the centuries, the name Dorce has been associated with various influential individuals. One such figure was Dorce of Ravenna, an Italian scholar and philosopher of the 14th century, who made significant contributions to the field of medieval scholasticism.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Dorce Braganza, a 16th-century Portuguese noblewoman and courtier, who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Austria. Her legacy includes her involvement in the cultural and artistic patronage of the Portuguese Renaissance.
In more recent times, the name Dorce has been relatively uncommon, but it has continued to be used, particularly in parts of Europe and the Mediterranean region. One notable modern figure was Dorce Gayta, a 20th-century Greek artist and sculptor, known for her innovative and avant-garde works.
People
Dorce + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dorce 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
Dorce: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dorce?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dorce 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 Dorce a common name?
We classify Dorce 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, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dorce most popular?
The single biggest year for Dorce was 1940, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dorce is about 101 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 Dorce in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dorce a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dorce 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.
Is Dorce still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dorce 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 Dorce 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 named Dorce?
Find out how many people share the name Dorce on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.