Dorian
Boy name · #539 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Dorian? In official American birth records, Dorian has been tracked continuously since 1915, giving it 110 years of documented American history.
Dorian is currently the #539 boy name in the United States — 557 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #560, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,232 boys born in 2025 was named Dorian.
The 110-year story
Dorian first appears in the Social Security records in 1915, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 641 boys were named Dorian — good for #441 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Dorian per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dorian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dorian in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dorian is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Dorian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dorian is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Dorian is most common in NM (1.5 per 1,000), AZ (0.7 per 1,000), OK (0.6 per 1,000), CA (0.6 per 1,000), NJ (0.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Dorian is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Dorian
Statistically, parents drawn to Dorian tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Fabian, Darian, Davian, Donovan, and Cristian.
FabianDarianDavianDonovanCristianEstebanMaximilianKeegan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dorian | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 557 | #539 |
| 2024 | 554 | #538 |
| 2023 | 468 | #605 |
| 2022 | 526 | #563 |
| 2021 | 497 | #567 |
| 2020 | 559 | #512 |
| 2019 | 560 | #511 |
| 2018 | 545 | #521 |
| 2017 | 527 | #538 |
| 2016 | 531 | #543 |
| 2015 | 512 | #560 |
| 2014 | 516 | #539 |
| 2013 | 486 | #546 |
| 2012 | 464 | #560 |
| 2011 | 490 | #522 |
| 2010 | 514 | #503 |
| 2009 | 524 | #513 |
| 2008 | 641 | #441 |
| 2007 | 542 | #490 |
| 2006 | 578 | #465 |
| 2005 | 625 | #428 |
| 2004 | 595 | #435 |
| 2003 | 560 | #449 |
| 2002 | 586 | #419 |
| 2001 | 603 | #416 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Dorian?
In official American birth records, the name Dorian first appeared in 1915 (over 110 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 110 years.
Is Dorian a popular boy name?
Dorian ranked #539 among boys in 2025 with 557 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #560.
When was the name Dorian most popular?
Dorian peaked in 2008, when 641 American boys received the name (ranked #441 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dorian?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,232 newborn American boys was named Dorian. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.