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Home › Baby Names Directory › Doris

Doris

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAWR-ihs /ˈdɔɹ.ɪs/Medium

Meaning: Dorian womanMedium

In 30 seconds: Doris is a Greek name meaning Dorian woman, a woman of the Dorian people.
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Origin MediumGreek, English, German
MeaningDorian woman
U.S. rank (2025)#2909 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births58 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1928
Total births (all-time)≈ 462,543

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192818802025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Doris comes from Greek and means a Dorian woman, tying it to one of the ancient Greek peoples. In myth it also belonged to a sea nymph, mother of the Nereids, which lent the name a gentle marine association. It has a clear, classical pedigree behind its plain modern sound.

The accented spelling Dóris appears in some languages, while bearers like the Nobel laureate Doris Lessing and the actress Doris Speed kept the name visible through the twentieth century.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Doris is 'Dorian woman', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Doris — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Dóris

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Doris Lessing (1919-2013)
    British novelist and winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature, author of 'The Golden Notebook'.
  • ★Doris Speed (1899-1994)
    English actress best known for playing Annie Walker in the soap opera 'Coronation Street'.

If you like Doris…

Dorothy— another Greek-rooted girl's name beginning with the same Dor- sound
Dora— a short Greek-derived name sharing Doris's opening syllable
Cordelia— a classical name overlapping Doris's literary, old-world feel
Isis— lands in the same popularity range
Hollis— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Doris

By themeenglishgreek

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Doris mean?

Doris is usually explained as meaning 'Dorian woman' and is most often linked with Greek tradition.

How do you pronounce Doris?

It's commonly said DAWR-ihs /ˈdɔɹ.ɪs/.

Is Doris a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Doris is used as a girl name.

How popular is Doris?

In 2024, Doris ranked #2195 in the U.S. for girls, with 86 births recorded.

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