What Does the Name Douglas Mean?
Douglas is a boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin meaning “dark river, black water.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Douglas |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic |
| Meaning | dark river, black water |
| Variants | Doug, Dougal, Douglass, Dugald |
| Popularity | A US top-30 name from the 1940s through the 1960s; it has declined considerably since. |
The meaning and origin of Douglas
The name Douglas means “dark river, black water” and has Scottish Gaelic origins. Douglas comes from a Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'dubh' (dark) and 'glais' (stream), originally the name of a place and river in Lanarkshire. It became a popular given name in 20th-century America.
Variants and related names
Douglas is related to several other names you may recognize: Doug, Dougal, Douglass, Dugald. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Douglas?
A US top-30 name from the 1940s through the 1960s; it has declined considerably since.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Douglas mean?+
The name Douglas means “dark river, black water” and is of Scottish Gaelic origin.
What is the origin of the name Douglas?+
Douglas originates from Scottish Gaelic.
Is Douglas a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Douglas has trended in the US over time.
Douglas by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press