Dorcas
/ˈdɔːrkəs/noun
A female given name from the New Testament, and the name of a type of antelope.
Did you know?In the New Testament, Dorcas is the Greek name of Tabitha, and the name was chosen because it means “gazelle,” a common ancient image of beauty and swiftness.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
δορκάς (dorkás)
“gazelle; a doe-like antelope”
Biblical Greek
Greek
Ταβιθά / Δορκάς
“Tabitha, translated into Greek as Dorcas”
Late Latin
Latin
Dorcas
“A Christian female name taken from the Greek New Testament”
Middle English
English
Dorcas
“A female given name used in Christian communities”
Modern English
English
Dorcas
“A female given name and, in zoology, a name applied to certain antelopes”