Doris

Doris is a Greek name understood as “Dorian woman,” linking it with the Dorians of ancient Greece. It is also the name of a sea nymph in Greek mythology: Doris, a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, was the mother of the Nereids. The geographical meaning and the mythological sea connection are two different parts of its history.

In English-speaking countries, Doris became an established given name during the nineteenth century and later acquired a strong association with singer and actress Doris Day. Her films and recordings give it a recognizable place in twentieth-century entertainment. Dorie offers a familiar shorter form. For a family considering Doris, the name brings together an ancient Greek identity, a sea-nymph story, and the possibility of honoring a relative from a more recent generation.