How Many People Are Named Doctor?
Complete statistics for the name Doctor: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Doctor is a striking occupational name derived from the Latin word for "teacher" or "learned one," and it's about as rare as names get. Only about 9 people living in the US today carry this name, meaning roughly 1 in 36,678,200 Americans share it. Its peak year was 1920 with 17 births, and every recorded bearer is now over 60.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 3 traditionally represents creativity, self-expression, and joyful communication. It's associated with people who are naturally optimistic, socially magnetic, and gifted at inspiring others through words and ideas.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 115All 369 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1920Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Stable
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Doctor Through the Generations
Doctor is a name that's almost entirely rooted in the early twentieth century. With 369 total births recorded in US history and a peak of 17 in 1920, it was never common, but it did see modest use during an era when aspirational and occupational names carried real cultural weight. Today, an estimated 9 people named Doctor are still living in the United States, and they're all over 60, giving the name an average bearer age of 115. That extreme age skew tells us this name hasn't been given to a newborn in decades. Zero bearers fall under 30, and zero fall between 30 and 60, so it's truly a relic of a bygone generation. Globally, about 25,890 people carry the name, ranking it #31,158 worldwide, with South Africa being its most common home outside the US. The trend line is stable but flat, meaning there's little chance of a comeback. It remains a fascinating snapshot of naming customs from over a century ago.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Doctor's Latin roots
📄 About the Name Doctor
How Many People Have the Name Doctor?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 3,488 people in the United States currently share the name Doctor. That works out to roughly 1 in every 95,026 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Doctor a Common or Rare Name?
Doctor is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Doctor Mean?
Doctor means "Teacher or learned one" and comes from Latin origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Doctor in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Doctor Most Popular?
The name Doctor reached peak popularity in 1920, with 17 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Doctor?
Approximately 3,488 people named Doctor live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 3,488. That works out to roughly 1 in 95,026 Americans.
Is Doctor a rare name?
Doctor is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 95,026 Americans has this name.
What does the name Doctor mean?
Doctor means "Teacher or learned one" and comes from Latin origins.
Is Doctor more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Doctor are male and 0% are female.
When was Doctor most popular?
Doctor peaked in 1920 with 17 births that year. Current trend: Stable.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.