Dorilla
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "little golden one".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Dorilla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dorilla today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dorilla births was 1891 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dorilla. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dorilla. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1891
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1891 SSA rank
#1,377
Tracked since 1891
Popularity
Dorilla: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Dorilla 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 Dorilla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Dorilla
The name Dorilla has its origins in Greek culture and language, derived from the Greek word "doron," meaning "gift." It first emerged during the ancient Greek era, around the 5th century BCE.
In ancient Greek mythology, Dorilla was the name of a nymph associated with the god Priapus, who was revered as the protector of gardens and vineyards. The name may have been used to honor the nymph or to invoke her protection for newborn children.
The earliest recorded use of the name Dorilla dates back to the 3rd century BCE, when it was mentioned in a Greek play by the playwright Menander. This suggests that the name was already in use among the ancient Greeks during that time.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Dorilla was a Greek courtesan who lived in the 4th century BCE. She was renowned for her wit and beauty and was celebrated by several ancient writers, including the philosopher Plato.
In the 16th century, Dorilla was the name of an Italian poet and scholar who lived in Naples. She was known for her literary works and her contributions to the cultural renaissance of the time.
Another notable Dorilla was a character in the 17th-century French play "Les Précieuses Ridicules" by Molière. The play satirized the affectations of the French aristocracy and the character of Dorilla represented the pretentious and affected nature of the upper classes.
During the 18th century, Dorilla was the name of an English artist and engraver who was known for her intricate works depicting nature and landscapes. She lived from 1718 to 1790 and her works were highly regarded in her time.
In the 19th century, Dorilla was the name of a French opera singer who performed in several renowned opera houses in Europe. She was born in 1824 and her performances were praised for their beauty and emotional depth.
While the name Dorilla has been used throughout history, it has never been a widely popular name in modern times. However, its Greek origins and historical references have contributed to its enduring legacy as a unique and intriguing name.
People
Dorilla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dorilla 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
Dorilla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dorilla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dorilla 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 - US residents.
Is Dorilla a common name?
We classify Dorilla as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dorilla most popular?
The single biggest year for Dorilla was 1891, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dorilla is about 0 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 Dorilla in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dorilla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dorilla 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 Dorilla still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dorilla 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 Dorilla 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 Americans are named Dorilla?
See how many people share the name Dorilla on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.