Dorian is also derived from the Greek word doron, meaning “gift.” The earliest literary mention of the Dorian people group is in “The Odyssey,” where they are found inhabiting the island of Crete. Dorian is also used as a surname, as well as a given name for boys and girls. However, it is most popular as a boy name.

Dorian first appeared in the Social Security Administration list of top 1,000 boy names in 1946 as No. 845. It then dropped in and out of the list until 1961. Dorian re-entered the list as No. 940 that year and has stayed in the top 1,000 boy names list ever since. Gender: Dorian is most commonly used as a boy name although it is also used as a girl name Pronunciation: daw-ree-uhn The name Dorian broke the top 500 in 1973 as No. 456 but has hovered in the 500’s and 600’s ever since. Between 1999 and 2000, it jumped over 100 spots to reach its peak at No. 398. It has since started trending downward but remains solidly in the middle of the list. Dorian ranks at No. 511 as of the latest data from 2020. The name Dorian might have first made its way onto the top 1,000 list as a result of the 1945 American horror-drama film “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” based on Oscar Wilde’s novel of the same name. Though Dorian is sometimes used as a girl name, it has never made the top 1,000 as a girl name.

Similar Names

Similar sounding names to Dorian:

AdrianDamianDarianDarrenGordonJulianMorganSorenWarren

Other Greek boy names:

DionErosHomerLeanderMyronPhoenixUlyssesXander

Other boy names that start with D:

DaleDanielDanteDaryl DerrickDavid DeMarcoDennisDominicDouglas Dwight

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Dorian? Here are some popular options:

AdanAstridCassiusDaphneDonovanDorisDylanEdenLeonaLeonidasZariah

Famous People Named Dorian

Although Dorian is most popular as a name for boys, there are also girls named Dorian. Our list of famous Dorians includes both males and females. The most well-known Dorian is likely the main character of Oscar Wilde’s 1890 novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” The story is about a narcissistic character who, despite the passage of time, retains his youthful good looks while a portrait of him ages in the attic. Even though the character had many flaws, the mystery and allure of the name Dorian consistently kept it on the most popular list for baby boy names in the United States. As a result, it has spawned a variety of famous Dorians.

Famous Dorians

Dorian Wood, American singer, composer, performance artist, visual artist, and writerDorian Harewood, American film and television actor  Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson, also known by his initials DTR, is an American NFL football quarterback  Dorian Gregory, American actor and host of the musical variety show “Soul Train"Dorian Elizabeth Leigh Parker, famous cover girl of the 1940sDorian Lawrence Finney-Smith, American professional basketball player for the National Basketball AssociationDorian Brown Pham, American actress

Fictional Dorians

Dorian Gray, the protagonist of the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar WildeDorian Lord, a character on the American soap opera “One Life to Live”Dorian Pavus, a character in the video game “Dragon Age: Inquisition”Dorian Havilliard, a character in the book series “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas

Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names in the U.S. 100 Greek Baby Names and Meanings 100 Gender-Neutral Baby Names