Dorrence
A variant form of the French surname meaning "gilded" or "golden".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Dorrence. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Dorrence today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dorrence births was 1928 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dorrence. 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 Dorrence. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1928
6 babies that year
Average age
-
1928 SSA rank
#3,822
Tracked since 1928
Popularity
Dorrence: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Dorrence 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 Dorrence during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Dorrence
The given name Dorrence finds its roots in the French language, originating from the medieval era around the 12th century. It is believed to be a variation of the name Dorence, which itself is derived from the Latin name Dorentius. The name Dorentius is composed of two elements: the prefix "dor-" meaning "gift," and the suffix "-entius" indicating a masculine name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dorrence can be traced back to a French nobleman named Dorrence de Montfort, who lived in the late 12th century. He was a prominent figure during the Third Crusade and participated in the siege of Acre in 1191. The name gained popularity among the French nobility during this period.
In the 13th century, the name Dorrence appeared in a religious text known as the "Vita Sancti Dorentii," which chronicled the life of a saint named Dorentius. This text further solidified the name's association with Christianity and contributed to its widespread use across Europe.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Dorrence was Dorrence the Poet, a French troubadour who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He was renowned for his lyrical compositions and is often credited with popularizing the use of the name in literary circles.
Another prominent individual was Dorrence de Valois, a French knight who served under King Philip IV in the early 14th century. He distinguished himself in battles against the English during the Hundred Years' War and was known for his bravery and valor.
In the 15th century, Dorrence de Beaumont, a French nobleman, played a significant role in the political affairs of the time. He served as a trusted advisor to King Charles VII and was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the end of the Hundred Years' War.
During the Renaissance period, the name Dorrence gained further recognition with the birth of Dorrence de Medici, a member of the influential Medici family in Florence, Italy. Born in 1482, he was a patron of the arts and contributed to the cultural renaissance of the time.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Dorrence, illustrating its enduring presence and significance throughout various eras and cultures.
People
Dorrence + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dorrence 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
Dorrence: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dorrence?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dorrence 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 Dorrence a common name?
We classify Dorrence 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, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dorrence most popular?
The single biggest year for Dorrence was 1928, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dorrence 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 Dorrence in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dorrence a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dorrence 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 Dorrence still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dorrence 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 Dorrence 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 common is the name Dorrence?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.