Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1916

Dorsey

Gender Unisex · 13% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists

Dorsey is a primarily masculine given name which may refer to:Dorsey Armstrong, professor of English and Medieval Literature Dorsey Burnette (1932–1979), American early…

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Dorsey
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1916
176 babies
All-time total
6,228
#1,700 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Dorsey popularity over time

6,228 babies have been named Dorsey since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.080.150.230.318801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – 139 139 14 – #352
1890s – 165 165 17 +19% #341
1900s 5 185 190 19 +15% #458
1910s 89 773 862 86 +354% #441
1920s 158 927 1,085 109 +26% #574
1930s 122 760 882 88 -19% #623
1940s 120 751 871 87 -1% #647
1950s 122 604 726 73 -17% #776
1960s 103 398 501 50 -31% #987
1970s 57 265 322 32 -36% #1,385
1980s 23 202 225 23 -30% #1,973
1990s 18 109 127 13 -44% #3,369
2000s – 98 98 10 -23% #5,347
2010s – 35 35 4 -64% #9,078
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Dorsey

Dorsey is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 6,228 American babies have been named Dorsey, about 87% boys and 13% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1916, when 176 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Dorsey stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Dorsey?

The median living Dorsey is about 65 years old; half are between 50 and 76. An estimated 2,400 people named Dorsey are alive in the United States today.

median 65 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Dorsey year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – 5 #12,672
2017 – – 6 #11,125
2016 – – 5 #12,718
2015 – – – –
2014 – – 6 #11,090
2013 – – – –
2012 – – 8 #9,078
2011 – – 5 #12,795
2010 – – – –
2009 – – 6 #11,383
2008 – – 12 #6,863
2007 – – 11 #7,226
2006 – – 7 #9,848
2005 – – 5 #11,936
2004 – – 11 #6,662
2003 – – 14 #5,347
2002 – – 13 #5,489
2001 – – 9 #7,073
2000 – – 10 #6,445
1995 – – 9 #6,052
1990 – – 15 #3,833
1985 5 #11,125 17 #2,862
1980 – – 24 #2,175
1975 6 #8,269 21 #2,149
1970 12 #4,568 35 #1,424
1965 12 #3,795 43 #1,148
1960 19 #2,839 60 #987
1955 7 #4,857 63 #944
1950 10 #3,495 57 #907
1945 8 #3,458 66 #755
1940 8 #3,289 86 #647
1935 6 #3,872 73 #713
1930 7 #3,753 89 #657
1925 13 #2,653 88 #685
1920 11 #2,961 118 #574
1915 13 #2,289 94 #588
1910 – – 15 #790
1905 5 #2,014 16 #598
1900 – – 25 #458
1895 – – 16 #509
1890 – – 17 #441
1885 – – 8 #719
1880 – – 14 #489

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Dorsey, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Dorsey?

The median living Dorsey is about 65 years old. Half of all living Dorseys are between 50 and 76 years old.

How many people named Dorsey are alive today?

An estimated 2,400 people named Dorsey are alive in the United States, based on 6,228 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Dorsey mean?

Dorsey is a primarily masculine given name which may refer to:Dorsey Armstrong, professor of English and Medieval Literature Dorsey Burnette (1932–1979), American early rockabilly singer Dorsey Crowe (1891–1962), American politician Dorsey…

How popular is the name Dorsey in 2025?

Dorsey did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Dorsey?

6,228 babies have been named Dorsey in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Dorsey most popular?

Dorsey peaked in 1916, when 176 newborns received the name.

Is Dorsey a boy or girl name?

Dorsey is used for both: about 13% of babies named Dorsey have been girls and 87% boys.

Is the name Dorsey rising or falling?

Dorsey is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Dorsey

Names that sound and feel close to Dorsey: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Dorsey with similar names → More names starting with D →