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Douglas

♂ Boy

Pronounced DUG-lus /ˈdʌɡ.ləs/High

Meaning: Dark water or black stream; from the Scottish Gaelic Dubhghlas, composed of dubh meaning dark or black and glas meaning water, stream, or greenHigh

In 30 seconds: Douglas means dark water or black stream in Scottish Gaelic, one of Scotland's great clan names whose members included the Black Douglas warriors who fought alongside Robert the Bruce, a two-syllable name of commanding historical weight.
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Origin HighScottish Gaelic
MeaningDark water or black stream; from the Scottish Gaelic Dubhghlas, composed of dubh meaning dark or black and glas meaning water, stream, or green
U.S. rank (2025)#807 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births308 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1957
Total births (all-time)≈ 560,016

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195718802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Douglas derives from the Scottish Gaelic Dubhghlas, from dubh (dark, black) and glas (water, stream, grey-green). It originally referred to the River Douglas in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Clan Douglas rose to be one of the most powerful noble families in medieval Scotland, producing the Black Douglas and Red Douglas lines.

Douglas transitioned from a Scottish clan surname to a first name in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was extremely popular in the United States and Australia in the early-to-mid 20th century, ranking in the top 20 boys names in the 1940s and 1950s. While now vintage, it carries substantial dignity and is part of the classic-name revival.

Did you know? The Black Douglas, Sir James Douglas (1286-1330), was Robert the Bruce's most trusted general and one of the most feared warriors of the 14th century. He earned the epithet Black Douglas both for his dark complexion and his terrifying battle tactics. His heart was taken on crusade to the Holy Land after his death, fulfilling a promise made to Bruce.
Overall data confidence 97%
Behind the Name — Douglas — Scottish Gaelic etymology and clan historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

DuglasDouglass

Nicknames

DougDougie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Michael Douglas (1944–present)
    American actor and producer, two-time Academy Award winner for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (producer) and Wall Street (actor).
  • ★Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964)
    Five-star American general who commanded Allied forces in the Pacific during World War II and oversaw the Japanese surrender in 1945.

If you like Douglas…

Angus— same powerful Scottish clan name with Gaelic Celtic heritage
Malcolm— shares the Scottish Gaelic clan-name tradition and two-syllable weight
Gordon— same category of historic Scottish surname turned mid-century first name
Ross— fellow Scottish one-syllable clan name used as a first name

Frequently Asked

What does the name Douglas mean?

Douglas means dark water or black stream, from Scottish Gaelic dubh (dark) and glas (water or stream).

How do you pronounce Douglas?

It is said DUG-lus, two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Douglas a Scottish name?

Yes, Douglas is one of Scotland's most historic clan names, originally a river name in Lanarkshire.

Is Douglas still a popular name?

Douglas peaked in the U.S. top 20 in the 1940s and 1950s and is now a vintage classic, part of the retro name revival.