NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Dory

A feminine name derived from the Greek "Doris", meaning gift.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Dory is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Dory popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 7 births.

This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2019 to 2024. 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.

Dory is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Dory. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Dory ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 7 girls were registered as Dory.
  • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dory as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2024

7 births

Estimated living

10

2026

Meaning

What does Dory mean?

The name Dory has its origins in the Greek language and culture, deriving from the word "doron," which means "gift." This name's earliest recorded use can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was a feminine name given to children as a symbol of appreciation and gratitude.

In Greek mythology, Dory was the name of one of the Oceanids, the three thousand daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys, who personified the multitude of streams, rivers, and bodies of water on Earth. This mythological connection suggests that the name Dory was associated with the natural world and the power of water.

The name Dory gained popularity in early Christian communities, as it was borne by several notable figures in the early Church. One such figure was Saint Dory, a 4th-century martyr who was executed for her Christian faith during the Diocletian persecution. Her unwavering devotion and sacrifice made her a revered figure, and her name became a symbol of courage and steadfastness.

Throughout history, the name Dory has been carried by several influential individuals. One notable example is Dory Funk Sr., born in 1919, a pioneering American professional wrestler and promoter who helped shape the sport in the mid-20th century. Another significant figure was Dory Previn, born in 1925, an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, and playwright, known for her poetic and introspective works.

In the realm of literature, Dory appears as the name of a character in Herman Melville's classic novel, "Moby Dick," published in 1851. Dory was one of the crew members aboard the ill-fated whaling ship, the Pequod, further solidifying the name's connection to the sea and maritime adventures.

Another notable bearer of the name was Dory Funk Jr., born in 1941, an American professional wrestler, and promoter, following in the footsteps of his father, Dory Funk Sr. He was a highly respected figure in the wrestling world, known for his technical prowess and contributions to the sport.

These examples illustrate the rich history and cultural significance of the name Dory, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from religious figures and martyrs to athletes, artists, and literary characters, all leaving their mark on the world in their unique ways.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Dory over time

The chart below shows babies named Dory registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2019 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Dory, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Dory
02457201920212024

Decades

Dory by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dory 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
2020s #3318 7 1
2010s #5591 3 1

Related

Names similar to Dory

FAQ

Dory: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Dory was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Dory most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 7 babies registered as Dory in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Dory?

A feminine name derived from the Greek "Doris", meaning gift.

How many people are called Dory in the UK?

A total of 10 babies have been registered as Dory across the 2 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.