Dorlis
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially derived from Latin elements.
Name Census estimates that about 19 living Americans carry the first name Dorlis. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dorlis today is around 82 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dorlis births was 1930 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dorlis. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Dorlis is about 82 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Dorlis' were born before 1954.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dorlis. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
19
~ 1 in 18,039,702 Americans
Peak year
1930
13 babies that year
Average age
82
years old
1951 SSA rank
#4,990
Tracked since 1923
Popularity
Dorlis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dorlis from the 1920s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 58 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1930s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dorlis by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dorlis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dorlis
The given name Dorlis is a unique and intriguing moniker with a rich history that spans several cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic languages, where it is believed to have derived from the root words "thor" and "lisi," meaning "thunder" and "gentle," respectively. This combination of contrasting meanings suggests a name bestowed upon individuals with a powerful yet benevolent presence.
In the early medieval period, variations of the name Dorlis were documented across various Germanic tribes, including the Franks, Saxons, and Angles. These early records often spelled the name as "Thorlisa" or "Thorlise," reflecting the linguistic evolution of the name over time.
As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the name Dorlis gained popularity among certain religious communities. It is speculated that the name may have been borne by pious individuals or those associated with monastic orders, as the name's meaning resonated with the ideals of strength and humility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dorlis can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval charters and documents from the German region of Saxony. Here, a woman named Dorlis is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction in the year 1142.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Dorlis. One such figure was Dorlis von Sachsen (1185-1244), a German noblewoman and abbess of the Quedlinburg Abbey during the 13th century. Her influence and leadership within the religious community of her time were well-documented.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Dorlis von Oldenburg (1398-1467), a German countess and regent who played a crucial role in the political affairs of the Oldenburg region during the 15th century.
In the realm of literature, the name Dorlis gained recognition through the works of the German writer and poet Theodor Fontane (1819-1898). His novel "Frau Jenny Treibel" featured a character named Dorlis, contributing to the name's cultural significance.
The Swedish artist and composer Dorlis Grashorn (1892-1978) was another notable figure who carried the name. Her unique blend of artistic talents and her contributions to the cultural landscape of Sweden in the early 20th century have been widely recognized.
Lastly, Dorlis Blume (1924-2008), a German actress and voice artist, left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry with her prolific career spanning several decades, further cementing the name Dorlis in the annals of history.
People
Dorlis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dorlis as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dorlis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dorlis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 19 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dorlis going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 18,039,702 US residents.
Is Dorlis a common name?
We classify Dorlis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 39.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 108 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dorlis most popular?
The single biggest year for Dorlis was 1930, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dorlis is about 82 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Dorlis in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dorlis a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dorlis in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Dorlis still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dorlis in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Dorlis can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Dorlis?
See how many people have the name Dorlis on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.