Total births
5,411
Unisex name · since 1880
Dorsey
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 5,411 babies named Dorsey, peaking in 1916. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 5,411
- total births
- 1880–2018
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
Dorsey sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 5,411 recorded since 1880.
Dorsey has 5,411 recorded births among boys since 1880, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2018.
- 5,411 total births
- 1880–2018 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 17% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
5,411 boys have been named Dorsey since 1880, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2018.
- 5,411
- total births
- 1880–2018
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Dorsey was born in this single decade.
1916
Single peak year
160 babies were named Dorsey in 1916 - its busiest year on record.
Dorsey's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Dorsey's SSA record in two at 1948 and the more recent half accounts for 34% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 66%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1999, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1916 peak of 160, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Dorsey at a glance
Last recorded 2018Peak year
1916
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1880
Dorsey popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2018
- Peak year (1916)
- 160
- Annual births at peak, across 139 years of records
Dorsey popularity over time - girls
817 total births recorded since 1905 (Dorsey as girls' name)
Dorsey by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Dorsey's strongest decade.
927 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Dorsey births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 139
1880s
139 births
- 1890s 165
1890s
165 births
- 1900s 185
1900s
185 births
- 1910s
1910s
773 births
- 1920s
1920s
927 births
- 1930s
1930s
760 births
- 1940s
1940s
751 births
- 1950s
1950s
604 births
- 1960s
1960s
398 births
- 1970s 265
1970s
265 births
- 1980s 202
1980s
202 births
- 1990s 109
1990s
109 births
- 2000s 98
2000s
98 births
- 2010s 35
2010s
35 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 927 births (17% of all-time use).
How Dorsey compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Dorsey's total volume
Dorsey vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Dorsey by state
Where Dorsey concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Georgia | | 465 | 8.6% |
| #2 | West Virginia | | 390 | 7.2% |
| #3 | Virginia | | 168 | 3.1% |
| #4 | Missouri | | 163 | 3.0% |
| #5 | North Carolina | | 149 | 2.8% |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | | 119 | 2.2% |
| #7 | Kentucky | | 93 | 1.7% |
| #8 | Texas | | 86 | 1.6% |
Georgia share of Dorsey's total US births 8.6%
Even split
465 of 5,411 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 23 reporting states.
Dorsey appears in 23 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Dorsey? ▼
5,411 babies have been named Dorsey since 1880. It was last recorded in 2018. The peak year was 1916 with 160 births.
When was Dorsey most popular? ▼
Dorsey was most popular in the 1920s decade with 927 total births. The single peak year was 1916.
Where is Dorsey most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Dorsey are Georgia (465 births), West Virginia (390 births), Virginia (168 births).
Is Dorsey a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Dorsey is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 5,411 births, and as a girl's name it has 817 births.
How long has the name Dorsey been used? ▼
Records for Dorsey go back to 1880, giving 139 years of history through 2018.
What names are similar to Dorsey? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Dorian, Dorothy, Doris, Doran, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Dorsey's data
- Dorsey's decade-level peak was the 1920s (927 total births); usage has since declined to 35 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Georgia records the most Dorseys (465 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Georgia names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Dorsey
Nearby Names Like Dorsey
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Dorsey
Dorian Boy
#540 24,187 births
Dorothy Boy
3,677 births
Doris Boy
3,241 births
Doran Boy
#8364 2,656 births
Dorman Boy
1,898 births
Compare Dorsey side by side: Dorsey vs Dorian Dorsey vs Dorothy Dorsey vs Doris
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Gibson #1621
5,410 births · Peak 2013
Chace #2615
5,405 births · Peak 2009
Meyer #1795
5,404 births · Peak 1917
Nikhil #2541
5,404 births · Peak 2007
Darell #1962
5,420 births · Peak 1988
Rosendo #4582
5,422 births · Peak 1993
Aditya #2146
5,400 births · Peak 2008
Hasan #1207
5,398 births · Peak 2025
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–2018 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Dorsey: Baby Name Since 1880 - 5,411 Births, Peak 1916." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/dorsey. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Dorsey draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.