Doreen
Doreen is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Little gift, or derived from the Irish name Doireann meaning 'sullen' or 'daughter of Doirfhionn'.
Origin and history
Doreen is an English name created as an Anglicized form of the Irish name Doiríne, which is a diminutive of Dora or Doireann. It gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Today, it is a vintage classic that is used infrequently for newborn girls in the U.S.
Popularity in the United States
46,431 babies in the United States have been named Doreen since 1880. It ranks #617 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1991.
States where it is most popular
- NY (23 %)
- CA (9.9 %)
- MA (8.1 %)
- PA (7.6 %)
- NJ (7.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 50 |
| 1910-1920 | 286 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,688 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,859 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,456 |
| 1950-1960 | 16,090 |
| 1960-1970 | 14,669 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,351 |
| 1980-1990 | 950 |
| 1990-2000 | 443 |
| 2000-2010 | 244 |
| 2010-2019 | 235 |
| 2020-2029 | 110 |
Famous people named Doreen
- Doreen Mantle: Actress
- Doreen Lawrence: Campaigner, Politician
- Doreen Valiente: Author, Poet
Nicknames
Dori, Dorie, Reenie
Fun facts
- The name Doreen was popularized by Irish novelist Edna Lyall in her 1894 novel 'Doreen: The Story of a Singer'.
- Doreen reached its peak usage in the United States during the mid-1950s, supported by popular culture figures of the era.