Doyle
Primarily a boy's name of Irish origin with 30,390 recorded births. Also given to 252 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Irish.
Doyle is a boy's and girl's baby name of Irish origin, from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Dúill or Ó Dubhghaill, from dubh (dark, black) and gall (foreigner, stranger), meaning 'dark foreigner' or 'descendant of the dark stranger' — one of the great Irish surnames used as a given name.
With over 30,000 recorded births, Doyle has been a substantial given name in the American South and Midwest, particularly in communities of Irish-American heritage. Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), the Scottish author who created Sherlock Holmes — one of the most famous fictional detectives in the world — gives the surname its most intellectually distinguished association. As a given name, Doyle carries both the Irish heritage of its origin and the mystery-solving genius of its literary bearer.
EtymologyShow more
Doyle first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1889. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Its Irish classification suggests a path from irish linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Doyle was #3665 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #7345, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 53 | #7643 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 130 | #6719 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 273 | #3586 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 412 | #2121 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 670 | #1187 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 1,462 | #708 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 3,465 | #422 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 5,079 | #324 | — |
| 1940s | 5,529 | #260 | — |
| 1930s | 6,021 | #205 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 4,930 | #253 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 2,054 | #340 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 216 | #524 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 87 | #814 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 9 | #687 | — |
The Story of Doyle
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1931, Doyle is an elegant vintage name. Boys named Doyle are most likely born between 1921 and 1941.
How rare is Doyle?
Only about 1 in every 327,273 babies born in 2024 was named Doyle — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1889, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1930s with 6,021 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Doyle by the numbers
- More Doyles than the population of a small U.S. town
- Would fill 633 school buses
- Meeting one Doyle per day would take 83.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(136 years, 1889–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | #7345 |
| 2023 | 9 | #8420 |
| 2022 | 8 | #9202 |
| 2021 | 14 | #6102 |
| 2020 | 11 | #7146 |
| 2019 | 11 | #7288 |
| 2018 | 13 | #6438 |
| 2017 | 18 | #5153 |
| 2016 | 10 | #7744 |
| 2015 | 12 | #6781 |
| 2014 | 8 | #8997 |
| 2013 | 17 | #5232 |
| 2012 | 11 | #7189 |
| 2011 | 10 | #7642 |
| 2010 | 20 | #4725 |
| 2009 | 21 | #4624 |
| 2008 | 27 | #3856 |
| 2007 | 29 | #3627 |
| 2006 | 32 | #3329 |
| 2005 | 34 | #3034 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Doyle as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Doyle has also been given to 252 girls in the U.S. since 1914.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Doyle a boy's or girl's name?
When was Doyle most popular?
How popular is the name Doyle?
Can Doyle be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1889–2024