NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Doran

A name of Gaelic origin meaning "wandering stranger" or "foreigner".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Doran is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Doran popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 4 births.

This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1999 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Doran. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Doran ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2002, when 4 boys were registered as Doran.
  • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Doran as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4702

2019

Births in 2019

3

Latest year

Peak year

2002

4 births

Estimated living

13

2026

Meaning

What does Doran mean?

The name Doran originated in the Gaelic language, which was spoken in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. It is derived from the old Irish word "dorann," meaning "wanderer" or "traveler." The name likely emerged during the early medieval period, around the 5th or 6th century AD, when the Gaelic language was widespread in these regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Doran can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a man named Doran mac Gille Patraic, who lived in the 12th century and was a member of the Uí Bhroin family, a prominent kindred in County Armagh, Ireland.

In the late 12th century, a notable figure named Doran O'Daly was the Chief Poet of the O'Daly clan in County Westmeath, Ireland. He was renowned for his poetic works and was considered one of the most skilled poets of his time.

During the 16th century, a man named Doran O'Meara was a prominent landowner and chieftain of the O'Meara clan in County Tipperary, Ireland. He played a role in the Desmond Rebellions, a series of uprisings against English rule in Ireland.

In the 17th century, Doran Maher was an Irish soldier who served in the Confederate Catholic forces during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1653). He is mentioned in historical records for his participation in battles against the English Parliamentarian forces.

Another notable figure with the name Doran was Doran Kelly, an Irish Catholic priest who lived in the late 18th century. He was a prominent supporter of the United Irishmen movement, which sought to unite Catholics and Protestants in Ireland in the pursuit of independence from Britain.

While the name Doran has its roots in the Gaelic language and Irish culture, it has also been used in other parts of the world over time, likely due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the historical records and examples mentioned above highlight the name's strong connection to its Irish origins and its presence in various periods of Irish history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Doran over time

The chart below shows babies named Doran registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Doran, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Doran
01234199920092019

Decades

Doran by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Doran was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #4756 6 2
2000s #2636 4 1
1990s #2943 3 1

Related

Names similar to Doran

FAQ

Doran: questions and answers

How popular is the name Doran in the UK right now?

In 2019, Doran was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Doran most popular?

The peak year on record was 2002, with 4 babies registered as Doran in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Doran?

A name of Gaelic origin meaning "wandering stranger" or "foreigner".

How many people are called Doran in the UK?

A total of 13 babies have been registered as Doran across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.