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

Popularity of Doris by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Doris is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Doris being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 76 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Doris.

The history of the first name Doris

The given name Doris has its origins in the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "doron," which means "gift" or "present." This name first came into use in ancient Greece during the Classical period, which spanned from the 5th to 4th centuries BC.

Doris was a relatively common name among women in ancient Greece, particularly in the region of Doris, a small territory located in central Greece. The name may have been inspired by the Greek mythological figure Doris, who was an Oceanid, or a sea nymph associated with the sea god Oceanus.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Doris can be found in Plato's philosophical dialogues, where he mentions a woman named Doris. Additionally, the name appears in various ancient Greek inscriptions and historical records from that era.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Doris. One of the earliest examples is Doris of Locri (c. 570 BC), an ancient Greek woman who was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time. Another notable figure was Doris of Erythrae (c. 300 BC), a renowned poet and writer from the ancient Greek city of Erythrae.

In later centuries, the name Doris continued to be used, albeit less frequently. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff (1924-2019), better known as Doris Day, an American actress, singer, and animal welfare activist who rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s.

Another notable Doris was Doris Lessing (1919-2013), a British novelist and Nobel Laureate in Literature, known for her novels such as "The Golden Notebook" and her exploration of feminist themes.

Other prominent figures with the name Doris include Doris Humphrey (1895-1958), an American dancer and choreographer who helped establish modern dance as an art form, and Doris Kenyon (1897-1979), an American silent film actress and stage performer.

While the name Doris experienced a decline in popularity in the latter half of the 20th century, it remains a beautiful and meaningful name with a rich historical legacy, reminding us of its ancient Greek origins and the concept of a "gift" or "present."

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 Doris was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!