A 1930s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Doran since 1912
Babies named Doran per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1954, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Doran's real moment was 1931.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 125 |
| 1920s | 209 |
| 1930s | 224 |
| 1940s | 249 |
| 1950s | 410 |
| 1960s | 373 |
| 1970s | 269 |
| 1980s | 214 |
| 1990s | 239 |
| 2000s | 184 |
| 2010s | 116 |
| 2020s | 44 |
Meaning & origin
Doran is a rare Irish-derived name with a meaning tied to exile and displacement, from the Gaelic Ó Deoradháin. Its rarity is reflected in its 2025 ranking of 7,679, with only about 1 in 170,808 baby boys receiving the name that year. The name's peak in usage occurred in 1931, during the Great Depression, a period when many traditional Irish names saw modest popularity among immigrants. After a long decline, Doran has been steadily rising since 2022, suggesting a possible revival as parents seek distinctive names with Celtic roots. Its debut in U.S. records dates to 1912, aligning with a wave of Irish immigration. The name has no strong association with any U.S. state's popularity, remaining geographically diffuse.
Doran is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Deoradháin, meaning 'descendant of Deoradhán'. The root deoradh means 'exile' or 'stranger', giving the name a connotation of a wandering or displaced person. Historically, the name was borne by a sept located in County Galway and later spread throughout Ireland. As a given name, Doran has seen modest use in the United States since the early 20th century.
Sibling names for Doran
Names that share Doran's style, for a brother or sister.
