Dorris is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "þorr," which means "thunder." The name is believed to have been brought to England by the Anglo-Saxons, who were a Germanic tribe that settled in Britain around the 5th century AD.
The name Dorris was initially used as a nickname for men named Thor, who were often warriors or champions. Over time, however, it became more commonly used as a given name for both boys and girls. Today, it is most frequently seen as a female name, although its use remains relatively rare compared to other names.
One interesting aspect of the name Dorris is that it has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. For example, Dorris Lessing was a renowned British writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007. Additionally, Dorris Ownbey was an American actress who appeared in several Hollywood films during the 1930s and 1940s.
In summary, Dorris is an uncommon yet historically significant given name of English origin that means "thunder." While it has been used for both boys and girls throughout history, it is now most commonly seen as a female name. Despite its rarity, the name Dorris has been carried by several notable individuals throughout the years.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe several trends regarding the number of births with the name Dorris in the United States over time.
From 1897 to 1923, the number of babies named Dorris fluctuated significantly. The lowest point was in 1897 with only 6 births, while the highest point within this period was in 1922 with 58 births. This suggests that the name Dorris gained popularity during these early years but remained relatively uncommon.
Between 1924 and 1937, the number of babies named Dorris remained more stable, ranging from a low of 33 births in 1929 to a high of 53 births in 1937. This period marks a time when the name Dorris maintained a consistent level of popularity.
However, starting from 1938 onwards, we see a steady decline in the number of babies named Dorris. The highest point during this period was in 1946 with 32 births, and it gradually decreased to just 5 births in 1967. This trend indicates that the name Dorris began to lose popularity over time.
It's also worth noting that there were several years with no reported births named Dorris after 1967 until at least 1974 when it again appeared on the records with 5 births each year. This further supports the idea that the name Dorris fell out of favor as a popular choice for baby girls in the United States.
In conclusion, while Dorris was once a relatively common name among newborn girls in the United States during the early to mid-20th century, its popularity has since declined significantly over time. According to these statistics, there have been a total of 1675 births with the name Dorris recorded in the U.S.