Douglass

Meaning of Douglass

Douglass traces its roots to the Scottish Gaelic dubh ghlais, meaning “dark stream,” and began life as a territorial surname before adoption as a masculine given name. The double-s variant is indelibly linked to abolitionist Frederick Douglass, reinforcing associations with intellectual rigor and social reform. California birth records from 1919 through 1990 record annual occurrences of five to fourteen, peaking at rank 111 in 1919 before a gradual descent to rank 370 by 1990. Pronounced /ˈdʌɡləs/, Douglass occupies a specialized niche in Anglo-American naming conventions, prized for its precise etymology and historical pedigree rather than mainstream chart success. While it has never breached the top 100, its steady recurrence suggests a methodical persistence that may surprise trackers of more fleeting naming trends.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as DUHG-luhs (/ˈdʌɡləs/)

• Doug
• Douglas
• Duglas
• Dougles