Douglass
Douglass was not among the names given to 5 or more boys in 2025. Its best year was 1942, when it ranked 575th; the most babies were born in 1970 (137). More babies were named Douglass in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Douglas) black stream · Scottish Gaelic
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedboys
- Babies in 2025
- 0boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1970137 babies
- Total since 1880
- 5,795babies recorded
What does the name Douglass mean?
Douglass is a spelling of Douglas, pronounced the same way, so it shares Douglas's meaning and origin.
Douglas comes from a Scottish place name made of Gaelic dubh 'black, dark' and glais 'stream'. The place in Lanarkshire gave its name to the powerful Douglas family, earls of Douglas and Angus. The surname was later used as a first name, first in Scotland and then across the English-speaking world. It is also the name of the capital of the Isle of Man.
dubh (Scottish Gaelic, “black, dark”)glais (Scottish Gaelic, “stream”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Doug, Dougie, Douglass.
See also: Scottish names, names that mean water, names that mean a color, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Douglas', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'dubh' (Scottish Gaelic section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Douglass popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 26 since 1921.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2000 | #4,639 | 16 |
| 1990 | #1,503 | 57 |
| 1980 | #1,050 | 74 |
| 1970 | #709 | 137 |
| 1960 | #790 | 94 |
| 1950 | #670 | 109 |
| 1940 | #850 | 55 |
| 1930 | #1,010 | 46 |
| 1920 | #1,023 | 46 |
| 1910 | #1,658 | 5 |
| 1900 | #1,203 | 6 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Douglass, counting every spelling?
Douglass is a spelling of Douglas, a name family that ranked #785 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 308 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas | 308 | #807 | 1,595 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Douglass?
About 3,500 people born in the US named Douglass are alive today, with a median age of 58; half are between 46 and 70. That makes Douglass a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Douglass by state
How common Douglass was among boys born in each state in 1968–1972, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Pennsylvania (2.4×). In 36 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Douglass: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Douglass, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Douglass
What does Douglass mean?
Douglass is a spelling of Douglas, which means “black stream” (Scottish Gaelic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Douglass?
Douglass was not among the names given to 5 or more boys in 2025. Its best year was 1942, when it ranked 575th; the most babies were born in 1970 (137). More babies were named Douglass in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Douglass a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Douglass in the US.
Where was Douglass most popular?
In 1968–1972, Douglass was most common in Pennsylvania (0.17 per 1,000 boys), followed by Washington and District of Columbia.