Given name & surname
Douglas
“from the black river”
Douglas is used as a given name and a surname. One Scottish interpretation is “from the black river.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Scottish interpretation is “from the black river.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Scottish.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Douglas through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 562,086
- 560,013 boys · 2,073 girls
- Most popular year
- 1957
- 16,765 babies
- 2025
- 308
- #807 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −18%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 308 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 807 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 17.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 16,730 in 1957. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (24). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 383,164 as a first name in 2020; 97,078 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Douglas’s family of names
In English usage, Douglas has a diminutive in Doug. In French usage, Douglas has a related form in Douglass. Douglas has a short form in Doug.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Douglas has relatives in 5 languages.
11 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 20
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Douglas
- Douglas AdamsBritish science fiction writer and humorist (1952–2001)
- Douglas MacArthurUnited States Army general in WWI, WWII and Korea (1880–1964)
- Douglas EngelbartAmerican engineer and inventor (1925–2013)
- Douglas OsheroffAmerican physicistborn 1945
- Douglas FairbanksAmerican actor, screenwriter, director, and producer (1883–1939)
- Douglas CostaBrazilian association football playerborn 1990
- Douglas Hydefirst President of Ireland; historian, poet, and folklorist (1860-1949)
- Douglas Haig, 1st Earl HaigBritish senior officer during the First World War (1861-1928)
- Douglas DiamondAmerican economist and professor of financeborn 1953
Characters named Douglas: Dr. Evil (Austin Powers films).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Douglas, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cary
“from the river” · “from the fort on the hill”
95% boys · 5% girls
Glen
“from the secluded narrow valley”
>99% boys
Neil
“the champion”
>99% boys
Kelvin
“a friend of ships; a man of the river”
>99% boys
Kenneth
“born of fire” · “handsome, fair one”
>99% boys
Barry
“a fair-haired man”
>99% boys
Kevin
“a beloved and handsome man”
>99% boys
Murray
“the lord of the sea”
86% boys · 14% girls