Dow Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DOW //daʊ//
Origin: Scottish; English
Meaning: Scottish: dark; English: from the hill
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Dow has its roots in the Old English word "dūg", which means "able" or "worthy". This term evolved through various linguistic stages, including Old Norse, where the word "dúgr" carried similar meanings.
The transition into Middle English saw the name take on various forms, eventually leading to the modern usage of Dow in English-speaking contexts. The name is often considered a diminutive or derivative of names such as Dowling or Downey, which have their own distinct histories and meanings.
Historically, the name Dow has been associated with several notable figures and events. In the context of Irish history, Dow is often linked to the Gaelic surname "Ó Dubh", meaning "descendant of Dubh", where "Dubh" translates to "black" or "dark".
This surname has been borne by various Irish clans and families, particularly in the provinces of Munster and Connacht. The name has also appeared in historical texts and records, particularly during the medieval period, when surnames began to solidify in the British Isles.
Culturally, the name Dow carries connotations of strength and capability, reflecting its etymological roots. In various traditions, names that signify worthiness or ability have been valued and passed down through generations, contributing to the name's endurance over time.
The name may also be associated with certain regional identities, particularly in Ireland and Scotland, where it has been embraced as part of local heritage. While diminutive forms like Dowie exist, the name's historical significance and its connections to notions of strength and lineage remain its most enduring qualities.
Famous people named Dow
In this section, you will find notable people named Dow. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Dow who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Dow who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Dow Jones is a financial index best known for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Dow Jones Transportation Average, and Dow Jones Utility Average.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Dow, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Dow. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Dow was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Dow has ranked as high as #1110 nationally, which occurred in 1962, and has been most popular in Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Dow has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Dow is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Dow was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Dow (1954)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| OH | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Dow.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1993 | 7 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1989 | 6 |
| 1987 | 5 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1983 | 8 |
| 1981 | 5 |
| 1979 | 9 |
| 1978 | 8 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1976 | 6 |
| 1973 | 7 |
| 1972 | 7 |
| 1971 | 10 |
| 1970 | 8 |
| 1969 | 12 |
| 1968 | 12 |
| 1967 | 10 |
| 1966 | 12 |
| 1965 | 11 |
| 1964 | 13 |
| 1963 | 20 |
| 1962 | 26 |
| 1961 | 19 |
| 1960 | 14 |
| 1959 | 23 |
| 1958 | 16 |
| 1957 | 14 |
| 1956 | 12 |
| 1955 | 10 |
| 1954 | 18 |
| 1953 | 14 |
| 1952 | 18 |
| 1951 | 18 |
| 1950 | 10 |
| 1949 | 17 |
| 1948 | 11 |
| 1947 | 12 |
| 1946 | 13 |
| 1945 | 13 |
| 1944 | 8 |
| 1943 | 14 |
| 1942 | 16 |
| 1941 | 11 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1939 | 11 |
| 1938 | 16 |
| 1937 | 10 |
| 1936 | 14 |
| 1935 | 13 |
| 1934 | 16 |
| 1933 | 15 |
| 1932 | 12 |
| 1931 | 18 |
| 1930 | 20 |
| 1929 | 14 |
| 1928 | 15 |
| 1927 | 22 |
| 1926 | 16 |
| 1925 | 17 |
| 1924 | 19 |
| 1923 | 17 |
| 1922 | 23 |
| 1921 | 13 |
| 1920 | 18 |
| 1919 | 21 |
| 1918 | 22 |
| 1917 | 17 |
| 1916 | 20 |
| 1915 | 15 |
| 1914 | 12 |
| 1913 | 11 |
| 1912 | 7 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1899 | 6 |
| 1898 | 9 |
| 1897 | 8 |
| 1895 | 5 |
| 1893 | 10 |
| 1890 | 9 |
| 1889 | 6 |
| 1887 | 5 |
| 1883 | 8 |
| 1882 | 7 |
| 1880 | 5 |