Dow
A boy's name of Irish origin with 1,091 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A male given name.
Dow is a boy's baby name of Irish origin, an anglicization of the Irish Gaelic Dubh meaning 'black, dark.' It was used as a given name primarily in Scottish and Irish communities, particularly as a short form of Dougal or a standalone surname-name honoring family heritage.
Compact and distinctive, Dow carries the no-nonsense character of a one-syllable name with genuine Celtic roots. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gave the name industrial-age financial associations, but as a given name it carries something older — a connection to the dark rivers and mountains of the Celtic world.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Dow is a boy's name with over a century of recorded use (1880–2015). Its Irish roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Though no longer in the top 1,000, Dow’s 1,091 recorded births mean it has left a mark. Every name carries the accumulated identity of the people who have worn it — and Dow has decades of that history.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dow has 91+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | #12569 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 18 | #10313 | — |
| 1990s | 18 | #7997 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 29 | #6454 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 61 | #4248 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 149 | #2243 | — |
| 1950s | 153 | #2103 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 125 | #2161 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 145 | #1953 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 174 | #1954 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 130 | #1791 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 6 | #979 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 47 | #833 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 31 | #856 | — |
The Story of Dow
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1962, Dow is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Dow are most likely born between 1952 and 1972.
How rare is Dow?
With 1,091 total births on record, Dow remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 174 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Dow by the numbers
- Would fill 23 school buses
- Meeting one Dow per day would take 3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(91 years, 1880–2015)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 | #12569 |
| 2005 | 5 | #11936 |
| 2003 | 5 | #11365 |
| 2000 | 8 | #7638 |
| 1995 | 5 | #9242 |
| 1993 | 7 | #7028 |
| 1992 | 6 | #7722 |
| 1989 | 6 | #7240 |
| 1987 | 5 | #7267 |
| 1984 | 5 | #6594 |
| 1983 | 8 | #4622 |
| 1981 | 5 | #6548 |
| 1979 | 9 | #4168 |
| 1978 | 8 | #4261 |
| 1977 | 6 | #5329 |
| 1976 | 6 | #5112 |
| 1973 | 7 | #4200 |
| 1972 | 7 | #4105 |
| 1971 | 10 | #3205 |
| 1970 | 8 | #3600 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dow a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dow most popular?
How popular is the name Dow?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2015