What does doris mean?
Doris is a female given name with deep roots in ancient Greece, where it belonged to an Oceanid nymph — a daughter of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys — who married Nereus, the old man of the sea, and became mother to the fifty sea-nymphs known as the Nereids. The name derives from the Greek region of Doris, homeland of the Dorians, so its ultimate sense connects to that ancient tribal identity. In modern times Doris became a firmly established English name, reaching the height of its popularity in the early twentieth century before falling out of fashion; today it often strikes listeners as charmingly old-fashioned. In informal British speech, "a doris" has also served as a mildly jokey, sometimes patronising way of referring to a woman, though this usage is dated and best avoided in polite company. The name remains familiar through figures such as the actress Doris Day.
A female given name of Greek origin.
"Doris joined the company in 1952 and stayed for thirty years."
In Greek mythology, an Oceanid nymph, wife of Nereus and mother of the fifty Nereids.
"In classical art Doris is often shown among the retinue of sea deities."
British informal, dated: a woman, used humorously or dismissively.
"He wandered into the pub looking for a bit of company from the local doris."
Colloquial and potentially patronising; avoid in formal contexts.
Rarely pluralised except when referring to multiple people bearing the name.
"Both her grandmothers were Dorises, which made family christenings confusing."
In Greek myth, Doris wasn't a person you'd meet at a party — she was an Oceanid sea nymph whose fifty daughters peopled the entire Mediterranean.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of doris
The name Doris comes from the ancient Greek Δωρίς (Dōris), meaning "Dorian woman", from Dōris, the small district in central Greece regarded as the ancestral home of the Dorians. In Greek mythology it was borne by an Oceanid who became the wife of Nereus and mother of the fifty Nereids. The name was adopted into English as a given name and grew steadily more common, becoming especially fashionable in the early twentieth century. Cognate forms such as Dorian and Doric share the same Greek root.
How doris is actually used
As a given name, Doris peaked in popularity in the early decades of the 20th century and now carries a somewhat dated, retro connotation in Britain and America. The informal British sense referring to a woman generically is colloquial and can sound patronising; it should be avoided in formal writing.
Easily confused with doris
"Dories" is simply the plural of "dory" (a small fishing boat), whereas "doris" is a personal name or slang term for a woman.