Dodds

English, diminutive of Roger

Dodds Origin and Meaning

The name Dodds is a boy's name.

Dodds is primarily recognized as a surname of English and Scottish origin rather than a given name. Derived from a medieval diminutive of the name Dodd, itself a short form of names like Roger or George, it originated as a patronymic surname meaning "son of Dodd." The surname has historic concentrations in northern England and the Scottish Borders. While extremely rare as a first name, Dodds might occasionally be used to honor a family surname, following the trend of using ancestral surnames as given names. This practice is more common in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States. When used as a first name, Dodds has a distinctly British sound and projects a traditional, somewhat aristocratic quality, though its usage remains exceptionally uncommon compared to other surname-derived given names like Taylor or Jackson.