Douglas

“Black stream (Scottish Gaelic dubh + glais)” — Scottish Gaelic origin

Boy's name · #807 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Douglas belongs to an older America first — it reached #23 back in 1942 — yet it still appears in today's records at #807. About 560,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. Douglas's short forms are Doug and Dougie.

Around the world: about 1 in 1,200 boys in England & Wales (2025) · about 1 in 1,500 boys in Scotland (2025) · about 1 in 1,800 boys in Sweden (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 31 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Douglases

Douglas Adams — British science fiction writer and humorist (1952–2001)
Douglas MacArthur — United States Army general in WWI, WWII and Korea (1880–1964)
Douglas Engelbart — American engineer and inventor (1925–2013)
Douglas Osheroff — American physicist
Douglas Fairbanks — American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer (1883–1939)

In stories & tradition

Douglas (Dr. Evil) — Austin Powers · Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Douglas (Captain Falcon) — F-Zero: GP Legend · Super Smash Bros.
Douglas McDuck — Donald Duck universe

What Douglases become

Among 2,405 notable people named Douglas:

Military figures appear 1.8× more often than among typical names — e.g. Douglas MacArthur, United States Army general in WWI, WWII and Korea (1880–1964).

Similar names: Ronald · Donald · Keith · Don · Dwayne · Darren

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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