Doc
Doc is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Teacher, learned person, or doctor.
Origin and history
Doc originated as an English occupational title derived from the Latin word doctor, meaning teacher or learned person. Historically used as an informal moniker for physicians, it gradually transitioned into a standalone given name in the United States. Today, it remains a distinctive, vintage choice for boys.
Popularity in the United States
1,391 babies in the United States have been named Doc since 1880. It ranks #3327 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1761.
States where it is most popular
- TX (57.6 %)
- GA (23.9 %)
- MS (12 %)
- CA (6.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 121 |
| 1890-1900 | 90 |
| 1900-1910 | 88 |
| 1910-1920 | 166 |
| 1920-1930 | 170 |
| 1930-1940 | 68 |
| 1940-1950 | 61 |
| 1950-1960 | 63 |
| 1960-1970 | 41 |
| 1970-1980 | 27 |
| 1980-1990 | 38 |
| 1990-2000 | 32 |
| 2000-2010 | 83 |
| 2010-2019 | 177 |
| 2020-2029 | 166 |
Fun facts
- Doc began as an abbreviated title for medical practitioners before becoming a casual term of endearment and eventually an official given name in U.S. birth records.
- The nickname is strongly associated with 19th-century American Old West figures like dentist and gunfighter John Henry 'Doc' Holliday.