Home › Baby Names Directory › Dorsey
Dorsey
How to Pronounce Dorsey
Pronounced DOR-see /ˈdɔːrsi/High
Meaning: Dorsey is a surname used as a first name, from the Anglo-Norman d'Orsay, 'from Orsay', a place near Paris; in Ireland it also anglicizes O Dorchaidhe, 'descendant of the dark one'. Given to both girls and boys, it inherits the surname's toponymic sense rather than a literal word-meaning.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
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
Dorsey comes from the Anglo-Norman d'Orsay, 'from Orsay' near Paris, and in Ireland from O Dorchaidhe. Carried to America as a surname, it was handed down as a first name for girls and boys in the surname-as-forename fashion.
It never became common as a girl's name, reaching only a couple dozen a year around 1931 before easing away. A Dorsey from that time belongs to a great-grandmother's generation now, and the name keeps a crisp, unisex surname feel.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Dorsey…
Explore names like Dorsey
Frequently Asked
What does the name Dorsey mean?
It's a surname-name from the Norman d'Orsay, 'from Orsay' in France.
How do you pronounce Dorsey?
It's said DOR-see /ˈdɔːrsi/, two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Dorsey a boy or girl name?
Dorsey is used as a girl's name.
Is Dorsey a popular name?
No, it was always rare as a girl's name, a surname-name seen only faintly in the twentieth century.