Douglas Name Meaning & Origin
Douglas
Origin of the name Douglas:
Transferred use of the surname derived from the Gaelic Dubhglas, a compounding of the elements dubh (black, dark) and glas (blue, green, gray). Dubhglas was a common Celtic river name, and the surname might have originated to denote one who lived near the river. Short: Doug. Pet: Dougie, Duggie.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
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US Popularity of Douglas Over Time

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- Comments and insights on the name Douglas
Douglas is actor Robert Pattinson's middle name. It was also the middle name of "The Doors" lead singer Jim Morrison.
I think Douglas is a strong, masculine name.
It's a great name, but is it out of fashion today? Does anybody name their kids Douglas any more?
- Personal experiences with the name Douglas
My younger brothers name is Douglas.
- Nicknames for Douglas
Doug
Dougie
Glas- Meanings and history of the name Douglas
Douglas was the name of a famous Scottish clan, once the most powerful in Scotland, and was later used as a given name to indicate ties with that family. Originally, it was given to girls such as Lady Douglas Howard (later Lady Douglas Sheffield), born about 1545. She was a first cousin of Anne Boleyn, mother of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Increasingly, however, it was given to boys, and by the 1800s had become almost exclusively a male name. This is a rare exception to the usual rule that male names can become female (Leslie, Evelyn) but not the other way around.
Douglas is Celtic for "dark blue" or "dark water".
- Famous real-life people named Douglas
Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books.
Douglas MacArthur, World War II general.
Douglas Fairbanks, American actor.
Douglas Osheroff, American physicist and winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics
Douglas Booth, American actor.
Douglas Bader
Doug Walker, actor and internet personality. Known for creating and acting as the Nostalgia Critic.- Douglas in song, story & screen
Doogie Howser, M.D., a television series about a teenage physician played by Neil Patrick Harris
Douglas Yancy Funnie, from the cartoon "Doug"
Douglas is Keith Partridge's middle name in the iconic 1970s TV series "The Partridge Family"
Douglas Billings, The Hangover. 1,2 & 3
Douglas "Doug" Ramsey, Cypher in various X-Men comics