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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Dorcas

32 replies

Fallingovercliffs · 19/12/2014 11:23

Heard a lovely, chubby, smiley toddler being addressed as this in a shop yesterday.
Does anyone know of any other little Dorcases around. I thought that name had died a death.

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Beangarda · 20/12/2014 23:17

I like it. Though associations include the sharp-tongued elderly cook in Six Cousins at Mistletoe Farm by Enid Blyton, as someone else mentioned (in fact it's a name that often seems to have been associated with servants, at least in fiction?) and Dorcas societies, which were all-female charitable societies that got together to sew clothes for the poor.

It sounds somewhat like the Irish for 'dark'/'darkness', which might be why I like it.

neme · 20/12/2014 21:15

It's lovely and well worth a revival like Martha etc.

Anjou · 20/12/2014 21:05

I've heard the name Dorcas before and thought 'blimey, that's a bad one' but ..... it's a girls name??!!! I thought it was a guys name. God. It's fifty times worse on a girl.

SueBridehead · 20/12/2014 21:00

I know a 15 year old Dorcas. I reeeeally don't like the sound of it and was quite dismayed to discover it was the Greek version of my favourite girls' name Tabitha!

BlueStarsAtNight · 20/12/2014 17:11

Wasn't it the name of a gnome in one if the Terry Pratchett books? I've never heard of it as a name for an actual person!

canweseethebunnies · 20/12/2014 13:12

I assumed it was a boy's name, and thought it was awful. Even worse now I know it's a girl's name!

Hedgehogsbuzz1 · 19/12/2014 22:40

I know an adult one. I like the name but dislike the fact it's Dork and Ass together. I bet 100 years ago it would have felt quite sophisticated though.

Devora · 19/12/2014 19:27

Guess it's just as well I didn't use it then Grin

Alisvolatpropiis · 19/12/2014 19:12

A truly ugly name.

Heels99 · 19/12/2014 18:45

She is the fat cook in an Enid blytn book, max be a Cornish name

Devora · 19/12/2014 18:38

I wanted to call dd1 Dorcas, but my entire extended family rose as one in rebellion (not to mention dp). I know they were right, but I still love it as a name. When I was at school we used to have an annual 'Dorcas Day' when we did stuff for charity. We used to knit patchwork blankets and send them to the elderly (lucky elderly).

colleysmill · 19/12/2014 18:24

The only Dorcas I've ever known was in Larkrise to CandleFord!

florascotia · 19/12/2014 17:54

As marmalade says above, it's Greek. It means 'gazelle' - very graceful.

UterusUterusGhali · 19/12/2014 16:55

I always thought it was an old New Forest name but may be very mistaken on that.

RoseyRuby · 19/12/2014 15:57

I thought of 7 Brides as well! Only time I've ever heard it as well and wasn't sure I was hearing it right.

HollyBdenum · 19/12/2014 15:57

I've always really liked it.

TakeMeUpTheNorthMountain · 19/12/2014 15:55

I worked with one recently. Im in Ireland though. And its a harsh sounding name. She want a fan of it herself

Yorkshirelassreturns · 19/12/2014 15:53

Oh please no. I had a horrid ancient and mean piano teacher called Dorcas when I was a child and she near enough killed my love of music. Ruins the name for me but it's horrid and clunky anyway. Sorry but you asked! X

Allstoppedup · 19/12/2014 13:05

I'm so sorry, it looks nice but said aloud I just hear Dork and Ass...

123Jump · 19/12/2014 13:04

There is a Dorcas in one of my favourite films, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
She was one of the Brides.
Only time Ive ever heard of it, and not sure Im mad on it,tbh.

TheMuppetsSingChristmas · 19/12/2014 13:03

Appalling, sorry. The term 'dork' as a mild insult is just too prevalaent for Dorca to be acceptable now I think.

usefully · 19/12/2014 12:56

I like it!

I once knew a horse called Dorcas Smile

OneFlewOverTheMumsNest · 19/12/2014 12:53

I love this name and campaigned for it for DD. DH was firmly against sadly.

TheNewStatesman · 19/12/2014 12:26

You know what "dork" means, right?

Dork. Ass. Hmmmm....

Please, please, don't saddle your daughter with this name!

Original poster
Fallingovercliffs · 19/12/2014 12:16

Tabitha is a lovely name.

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