Rising since 1985, #539 for boys today.
Popularity of Dorian since 1915
Babies named Dorian per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Dorian's real moment was 2025.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 7 | 16 |
| 1920s | 44 | 57 |
| 1930s | 35 | 60 |
| 1940s | 149 | 308 |
| 1950s | 511 | 532 |
| 1960s | 497 | 783 |
| 1970s | 715 | 2,114 |
| 1980s | 902 | 2,256 |
| 1990s | 859 | 3,862 |
| 2000s | 536 | 5,893 |
| 2010s | 211 | 5,145 |
| 2020s | 75 | 3,161 |
Meaning & origin
Dorian is a Greek name that has steadily gained favor since the mid-1980s. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1915 and reached its peak popularity in 2025, when it ranked 539th nationwide. The name is most common in New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada. Its literary connection to Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray gives it an artistic, slightly enigmatic aura, while its melodic sound and strong cultural roots make it appealing to modern parents. With a 1-in-3067 birth rate, Dorian remains distinctive without being obscure.
Dorian derives from the Greek Doreios, meaning 'of the Dorian tribe', referring to one of the four major ethnic groups of ancient Greece. It is also associated with the Greek region of Doris. The name gained literary prominence through Oscar Wilde's 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, which brought it into wider use in the English-speaking world.
Where Dorian is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Dorian” around the world
Where Dorian lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
75
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dory, Ian, Dorian
Sibling names for Dorian
Names that share Dorian's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Celeste, Ivy, Lydia, Ruby, Violet, Roxanne, Aliana, Demetria, Desire, Doria, Drucilla, Kassandra, Lorin, Ariadne, Dorinda, Korina, Lanaya, Malina, Myranda, Nereida, Persephone, Sebrina, Veronika, Zabrina, Alandria, Alinda, Ardena, Athina, Aysel, Calypso, Cipriana, Cirilla, Corianne, Cyrena, Deloria, Diania, Genessa, Kallista, Kasiah, Korinna, Lacretia, Lorien, Queena, Renelle, Syria, Tomara, Aleria, Arabia, Arnika, Auriana, Cheria, Clytie, Daffney, Darinda, Diora, Doreena, Elanora, Eugina, Illyana, Kalandra, Kassia, Kateria, Lanore, Lorian, Lorilei, Marcea, Mirranda, Moranda, Myrissa, Ronya, Sabriel, Saphira, Torina, Tyria, Dorismar, Karris, Syrina, Alondria, Andora, Ardenia, Areta, Aritha, Armina, Avella, Bitania, Cilicia, Cynara, Denora, Dezaria, Dorlisa, Ebany, Endora, Glorian, Iriel, Jamina, Janora, Kamoria, Kasmira, Katora, Katria, Keimora, Koriana, Kyrene, Larimar, Larrisa, Loreena, Loreley, Lowana, Mairany, Majesta, Mareta, Marien, Odessia, Phoenicia, Quinette, Rotunda, Rowene, Sarissa, Shanty, Tanith, Tavaria, Teleah, Valerya, Valine, Valyncia, Veleda, Venissa, Vernestine
Brothers: Julian, Leo, Oliver, Sebastian, Theodore, Byron, Kobe, Amadeus, Cedrick, Delon, Dorien, Jareth, Aris, Dione, Gasper, Taurean, Torian, Alastor, Balin, Bora, Jorian, Kadrian, Kenon, Larell, Orian, Revan, Rolan, Toren, Torrin, Yurem, Apollos, Arrion, Azarion, Calian, Chandon, Corian, Corion, Cyprus, Damonie, Danis, Decorian, Delsin, Devian, Dorean, Jarion, Jorah, Jorel, Kastiel, Lazlo, Merik, Orenthal, Othell, Tyreon, Tyrian, Zorian, Cashmir, Savien, Sorren, Adorian, Calcifer, Daemion, Delphin, Dominie, Dorrien, Duriel, Jasmond, Karion, Kerrion, Myreon, Oberyn, Orlander, Talvin, Toris, Torrion, Tristram, Weyland
Names like Dorian
Names whose popularity has moved with Dorian's over the last 50 years.
