Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Dorris
GirlGreek· “variant of Doris”
- Meaning
- variant of Doris
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- DOR-ihs
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #391 (1923)
- Peak year
- 1924
Meaning and origin of Dorris
Dorris is a Greek name that is usually said to mean “variant of Doris”.
Dorris is a spelling of Doris, a Greek name meaning Dorian woman, from the Dorians, one of the main peoples of ancient Greece. In Greek myth, Doris was a sea nymph, the wife of Nereus and the mother of the sea nymphs called the Nereids. Doris became popular in the English-speaking world in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the double r of Dorris appeared in American records alongside it. It is said DOR-ihs. Dory and Dot are possible nicknames. Dorris has a soft, vintage sound and a link to classical myth.
Other spellings with the same sound: Dorice.
Popularity over time
Dorris first appears in US Social Security records in 1888. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 52 different years, starting in 1896. Its best national rank was #391 in 1923, and the most babies received it in 1924, when 304 were named Dorris. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #453 in 1920, #1,164 in 1950, and #10,816 in 1980. Of the 7,360 US girls named Dorris since records began, 36% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1930s come next, with 1,511 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Georgie, Jaunita, Jannie, Ester, and Retha.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 82% of US babies named Dorris over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Dorris is usually pronounced DOR-ihs, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with D and ends in “-is”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Dorice.
Middle names for Dorris
A few middle names that flow with Dorris: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dorris
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Lists that include Dorris
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dorris mean?
Dorris is a Greek name that is usually said to mean “variant of Doris”.
What is the origin of the name Dorris?
Dorris has Greek roots. Dorris is a spelling of Doris, a Greek name meaning Dorian woman, from the Dorians, one of the main peoples of ancient Greece.
Is Dorris a popular name?
No. Dorris was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Dorris a boy or girl name?
Dorris is mainly a girl's name. About 82% of US babies named Dorris over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Dorris?
Dorris is usually pronounced DOR-ihs. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings