Name meaning & stats
Doug
Doug means “dark stream”. 22,083 US babies since 1940, peak 1962. Notable Dougs are 2.8× over-represented as ice hockey players.
What it means
“dark stream”
Pet form of Douglas
In US birth records
Peak year: 1962
22,083 US babies were named Doug between 1940 and 2025.
Where Dougs end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 1.6× | High · 116 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.6× | High · 93 people |
| Ice hockey player | 2.8× | High · 78 people |
| Baseball player | 1.9× | High · 57 people |
Among notable men who are ice hockey players, Dougs show up 2.8× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Doug has a surprise career: 1.5×
Name twins (peaked around 1962)