Dorsey Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Dorsey originates from the Old French personal name D'Arcy, meaning 'from the fortress'. It evolved through historical forms such as D'Arcy before settling into its modern form. The name has traits associated with strength and heritage, and it has no biblical relevance. Dorsey gained popularity after the Norman Conquest and remains in use today.
The name Dorsey is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Dorsey has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Dorsey' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 616th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 712th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 966th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1663rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3358th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7746th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 16116th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2480th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2526th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3437th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6998th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 14820th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Dorsey' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dorsey"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɔːrsi/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Dorsey is derived from the Old French personal name 'D'Arcy', meaning 'from the fortress'. It is believed to have originated from the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.
Meaning
from the fortress
Language Evolution
D'Arcy, Dorsey
Historical Usage
The name Dorsey gained popularity in England after the Norman Conquest, particularly among the Anglo-Norman families. It has continued to be used into modern times.
Variants & Derivatives
D'Arcy, Dorsett, Dorsy
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Dorsey is perceived as a unique and somewhat traditional name, often associated with heritage and family lineage.
Famous People
Dorsey Burnette - American singer-songwriter, Dorsey Wright - American football player
Explore More Dorsey Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dorsey"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Dorsey"
"Dorsey" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 616th of 7545 | 1,683 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 712th of 6773 | 1,396 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 966th of 7552 | 1,128 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1663rd of 10718 | 455 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3358th of 16616 | 262 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 7746th of 24088 | 136 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 16116th of 23106 | 22 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2480th of 9107 | 227 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2526th of 9204 | 222 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3437th of 12526 | 229 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 6998th of 19264 | 98 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 14820th of 27321 | 41 |
Regional Popularity of "Dorsey" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
100.00% 665th/665 |
100.00% 864th/864 |
100.00% 481st/481 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
100.00% 705th/705 |
100.00% 814th/814 |
100.00% 576th/576 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
100.00% 1054th/1054 |
100.00% 1084th/1084 |
100.00% 867th/867 |
100.00% 1682nd/1682 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 1518th/1518 |
100.00% 2223rd/2223 |
100.00% 1733rd/1733 |
100.00% 2319th/2319 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
100.00% 3511th/3511 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Dorsey" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
100.00% 1853rd/1853 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
100.00% 2353rd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Dorsey"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dorsey" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.