Douglas
Douglas comes from the Scottish Gaelic "dubh" (dark) and "glais" (stream, water) — meaning "dark stream." The name began as a place-name and a surname in the Scottish Lowlands. The Clan Douglas was one of the most powerful families in medieval Scotland. Sir James Douglas (1286-1330) was a companion of Robert the Bruce. Douglas was a top-100 American name from 1925 to 1985, peaking at #23 in 1942. Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), the US general who commanded Pacific forces in WWII and led the UN command in Korea, is the most famous American bearer. Douglas (the actor Michael Douglas, born 1944) gave the name a Hollywood charge. Douglas Adams (1952-2001), the author of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (1979), gave the name literary prestige. I find Douglas has a serious, slightly Scottish quality — the "D" opening is firm, and the "glas" ending gives it weight. The nickname Doug (as in Doug Funny of the Nickelodeon cartoon) lightens it considerably. Douglas is a male name of Scottish Gaelic origin that means "Dark stream". Serious, Scottish, and a little literary. The name sounds historic. Douglases tend to be principled. US peaked #23 in 1942. Outside top 500 since 2017. Well-known people named Douglas include Douglas MacArthur (general), Michael Douglas (actor), Douglas Adams (author), Douglas (Scottish Gaelic name). Common variations and related forms of Douglas include Doug (short form), Douglass (variant), Dugald (Scottish form), Dugal (related).