Glendoris
A feminine given name likely derived from the words "glen" and "doris".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Glendoris. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Glendoris today is around 86 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Glendoris births was 1924 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Glendoris. 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 Glendoris is about 86 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Glendoris' were born before 1950.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Glendoris. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1924
10 babies that year
Average age
86
years old
1938 SSA rank
#4,575
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Glendoris: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Glendoris from the 1920s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 54 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Glendoris remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Glendoris 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 Glendoris during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Glendoris
The name Glendoris is a feminine given name of uncertain origin, with several theories about its linguistic roots and cultural heritage. One popular belief is that it derives from the Gaelic word "glen," meaning a narrow valley, combined with the Latin word "doris," meaning gift. This suggests that Glendoris may have originated in the Celtic regions of the British Isles, with a potential meaning of "gift from the valley" or "valley gift."
Another theory traces the name's origins to the Greek words "glene" (meaning eye or glance) and "doron" (meaning gift). According to this interpretation, Glendoris could signify "gift of the eye" or "eye's gift," possibly alluding to the perception of beauty or a coveted treasure. However, there is limited historical evidence to support either of these etymological explanations definitively.
Early recorded instances of the name Glendoris are scarce, with no known mentions in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records from major civilizations. The earliest documented use of the name appears to be in the 19th century, with a few notable individuals bearing it.
One of the earliest recorded individuals named Glendoris was Glendoris Borkenhagen (1884-1956), a German-American artist and painter known for her landscape and still life works. Another was Glendoris Mayer (1901-1989), an American actress and singer who appeared in several Broadway productions and films during the 1920s and 1930s.
In the early 20th century, Glendoris Jones (1912-1996) was an American teacher and civil rights activist who fought against segregation in Louisiana. Glendoris Hogan (1918-2008) was an American businesswoman and philanthropist who co-founded the Hogan Family Foundation, supporting various charitable causes.
More recently, Glendoris Adkins (1930-2015) was an American country music singer and songwriter, known for her collaborations with her husband, Country Music Hall of Famer Louvin Brothers member Charlie Louvin.
While Glendoris is a relatively uncommon name, it has been borne by a diverse group of individuals throughout history, each leaving their unique mark in various fields and industries. Despite its uncertain origins, the name has persisted as a distinct and intriguing moniker, carrying with it the potential for multiple interpretations and cultural associations.
People
Glendoris + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Glendoris as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Glendoris: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Glendoris?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Glendoris 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Glendoris a common name?
We classify Glendoris as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 85 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Glendoris most popular?
The single biggest year for Glendoris was 1924, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Glendoris is about 86 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Glendoris a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Glendoris 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.
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.