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Douglas

Boy name · 4,261 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Douglas: 4,261 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 248 births in 1979.

With deep Scottish Gaelic roots, Douglas comes from *dubh glas*, meaning "dark water" or "black stream," originally a place name for rivers in Lanarkshire and elsewhere. The name became a powerful surname through the prominent Clan Douglas, whose members long shaped Scottish history. Notable bearers include the American general Douglas MacArthur, whose leadership in the Pacific defined a generation, and writer Douglas Adams, creator of *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*. The name also graces the Isle of Man's capital, Douglas, and towns across the English-speaking world, all sharing that same river-inspired origin. A classic Scottish choice, Douglas remains a strong, enduring first name that connects wearers to a rich clan legacy and a landscape of flowing waters.