Boy
Scottish Gaelic
2 syllables
Douglas
DUG-las
/ˈdʌɡ.ləs/
"Dark stream" — a rugged Scottish clan name with deep historical roots and quiet distinction
Douglas comes from the Scottish Gaelic Dubhghlas, meaning dark stream or dark water, from dubh (dark, black) and glas (stream, water). It began as a place name for several rivers in Scotland and became the name of the powerful House of Douglas, one of Scotland's most influential noble families. The name spread widely through Scottish emigration, particularly to the US and Australia.
Quick Facts
Letters7
SyllablesDoug · las
GenderBoy
OriginScottish Gaelic
Root WordDubhghlas
MeaningDark stream, dark water
PopularityFamiliar
Peak Year1950
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayOctober 14
Nicknames
DougDougieDug
About the Name Douglas
Douglas means dark stream or dark water, from the Scottish Gaelic Dubhghlas, combining dubh (dark) and glas (stream).
Douglas originates from Scotland as a place name for dark rivers, later becoming the name of a powerful noble clan and then a given name.
Douglas was widely popular in the mid-20th century but has declined significantly. It is now considered a vintage name with a strong heritage.
Douglas James, Douglas Robert, and Douglas Scott are traditional combinations that complement the name's Scottish character.
Douglases are typically seen as solid, reliable, and quietly authoritative — much like the dark, steady streams their name evokes.
Douglas is spelled D-O-U-G-L-A-S. The common nickname Doug is universally recognized.
Personality of Douglas
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Douglas
Creativity
62%
Elegance
62%
Independence
74%
Intelligence
76%
Strength
80%
Warmth
72%
Famous People Named Douglas
D
Douglas MacArthur
US Army General who commanded Allied forces in the Pacific in WWII
M
Michael Douglas
Oscar-winning American actor known for Wall Street
F
Frederick Douglass
American abolitionist, orator, and writer who escaped slavery
Middle Names for Douglas
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Douglas
Douglas James
Douglas Robert
Douglas William
Douglas Scott
Douglas Lee
Douglas Alan
Douglas Grant
Douglas Andrew
Douglas Keith
Douglas Mark
Names Similar to Douglas
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Douglas
1200
House of Douglas rises as one of Scotland's most powerful noble families
1400
Douglas used as a given name among Scottish nobility
1950
Douglas peaks in the US, UK, and Australia
2000
Usage declines; now strongly associated with mid-20th century generations
Numerology & Symbolism of Douglas
7
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
1
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Capricorn
4
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Dark Green
💎
Lucky Stone
Black Tourmaline
🌸
Lucky Flower
Heather
Douglas Around the World
How Douglas is written in different languages and scripts
دوغلاس
Arabic
ダグラス
Japanese
Дуглас
Russian
더글러스
Korean
道格拉斯
Chinese
Ντάγκλας
Greek
डगलस
Hindi
דגלס
Hebrew
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