Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Doug
BoyScottish, Gaelic· “short form of Douglas”
- Meaning
- short form of Douglas
- Origin
- Scottish, Gaelic
- Pronunciation
- DUHG
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #170 (1962)
- Peak year
- 1962
Meaning and origin of Doug
Doug is a Scottish and Gaelic name that means “short form of Douglas”.
Doug is the short form of Douglas, from the Gaelic dubh, dark, and glas, stream, so it means dark water. Douglas is the name of a river and district in Scotland, and the Douglas family were among the most powerful nobles in medieval Scotland. Douglas became common as a given name in the twentieth century, and Doug was widely used as an everyday form, sometimes as a legal name. It is said DUHG. Dougie is a pet form. Doug is simple and friendly, with a dramatic Scottish history behind it.
Popularity over time
Doug first appears in US Social Security records in 1918. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 43 different years, starting in 1937. Its best national rank was #170 in 1962, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,843 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #494 in 1950, #1,091 in 1980, and #7,638 in 2000. Of the 22,468 US boys named Doug since records began, 53% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 5,348 babies. Since 2010, 40 more have been named Doug.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Gregg, Marty, Kelvin, Chuck, and Kirk.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Doug is usually pronounced DUHG, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with D and ends in “-ug”.
Middle names for Doug
A few middle names that flow with Doug: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Doug
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Lists that include Doug
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Doug mean?
Doug is a Scottish and Gaelic name that means “short form of Douglas”.
What is the origin of the name Doug?
Doug has Scottish and Gaelic roots. Doug is the short form of Douglas, from the Gaelic dubh, dark, and glas, stream, so it means dark water.
Is Doug a popular name?
No. Doug was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Doug a boy or girl name?
Doug is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Doug?
Doug is usually pronounced DUHG. 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