Douglus
Scottish Gaelic name meaning "dark stream" or "dark water".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Douglus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Douglus today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Douglus births was 1962 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Douglus. 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 Douglus is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Douglus' were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Douglus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1962
5 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1962 SSA rank
#4,213
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Douglus: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Douglus 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 Douglus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Douglus
The name Douglus is an uncommon variant of the given name Douglas, which has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language. The name is derived from the Gaelic elements 'dubh' meaning 'dark' and 'glas' meaning 'stream' or 'water'. It is believed to have originated as a surname in the 12th century, referring to a person who lived near a dark stream or river.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Douglus can be found in the Chronicles of Melrose, a medieval Scottish chronicle dating back to the 13th century. The text mentions a nobleman named Douglus de Cavers, who was granted lands in the Scottish Borders region.
In the 14th century, there was a notable Scottish figure named Sir Douglus de Rydall, a knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence against the English. He played a significant role in several battles and was rewarded with lands for his loyalty.
During the Renaissance period, a prominent Italian architect named Douglus Bramante (1444-1514) gained fame for his innovative designs and contributions to the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. He is considered one of the most influential architects of the High Renaissance era.
In the 17th century, a Dutch painter named Douglus van der Neer (1603-1685) was renowned for his landscape paintings depicting moonlit scenes and winter landscapes. His works were highly sought after by collectors and played a significant role in the development of Dutch Golden Age painting.
Another notable figure with the name Douglus was Douglus MacArthur (1880-1964), a highly decorated American general who played a crucial role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He was also known for his involvement in the Korean War and his famous quote "I shall return" during the campaign against the Japanese.
While the name Douglus is not as common as its more familiar variant Douglas, it has a rich history and has been borne by notable figures across various fields throughout the centuries, reflecting its Scottish Gaelic origins and the cultural significance it holds.
People
Douglus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Douglus 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
Douglus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Douglus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Douglus 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Douglus a common name?
We classify Douglus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% 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 Douglus most popular?
The single biggest year for Douglus was 1962, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Douglus is about 67 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 Douglus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Douglus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Douglus 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 Douglus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Douglus 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 Douglus 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 Douglus?
Find out how many people share the name Douglus on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.