Dorcas
A girl's name of Greek origin with 7,231 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A woman who is said, in the Bible, to have been restored to life by Peter.
Dorcas is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, from the Greek Dorcas, a translation of the Aramaic Tabitha, both meaning 'gazelle' — a symbol of grace, beauty, and swift movement in both Greek and Aramaic traditions.
With over 7,200 recorded births, Dorcas appears in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 9:36-42) as the name of a woman in Joppa who was revered for her charitable works — she made clothing for the poor and was raised from the dead by the apostle Peter in one of the New Testament's most dramatic miracles. Dorcas societies (charitable sewing circles) were named in her honor throughout 19th century Britain and America.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Dorcas belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Greek naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Greek names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Dorcas’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dorcas was #5807 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #5982, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 128 | #5147 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 256 | #5318 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 220 | #5784 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 275 | #3986 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 334 | #2925 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 419 | #2085 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 710 | #1353 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 796 | #1122 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 750 | #928 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 886 | #729 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 1,211 | #664 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 771 | #689 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 226 | #786 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 145 | #855 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 104 | #691 | — |
The Story of Dorcas
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1923, Dorcas is a name steeped in history. Girls named Dorcas are most likely born between 1913 and 1933.
How rare is Dorcas?
Only about 1 in every 180,000 babies born in 2024 was named Dorcas — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 1,211 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Dorcas by the numbers
- Would fill 151 school buses
- Meeting one Dorcas per day would take 19.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 | #5982 |
| 2023 | 22 | #5598 |
| 2022 | 26 | #5059 |
| 2021 | 26 | #4994 |
| 2020 | 34 | #4100 |
| 2019 | 25 | #5197 |
| 2018 | 35 | #4092 |
| 2017 | 22 | #5715 |
| 2016 | 27 | #5034 |
| 2015 | 30 | #4626 |
| 2014 | 22 | #5845 |
| 2013 | 25 | #5361 |
| 2012 | 22 | #5958 |
| 2011 | 27 | #5105 |
| 2010 | 21 | #6242 |
| 2009 | 21 | #6377 |
| 2008 | 23 | #5996 |
| 2007 | 21 | #6395 |
| 2006 | 18 | #6942 |
| 2005 | 28 | #4745 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dorcas a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dorcas most popular?
How popular is the name Dorcas?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024