Gorman is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic 'Gormán', which means 'little blue'. It is a variant form of the name Gorm, itself coming from the Old Norse 'gormr', meaning 'blue-black'. The name was popular among the Irish during the Middle Ages and was often used as a personal name. Today, it remains a unique choice for parents seeking a distinctive first name with a rich historical background.
The name Gorman experienced fluctuating popularity throughout the first half of the twentieth century, with a significant peak during World War I and its aftermath. Between 1914 and 1925, there were consistently high numbers of babies named Gorman, reaching a pinnacle in 1918 with 30 births and again in 1924 with 32 births. However, this popularity did not sustain, as the number of annual Gorman births began to decline steadily after 1925, falling below double digits by the mid-1930s. This trend continued into the post-WWII era, with only a few years showing more than ten Gorman births each year between 1946 and 1980, indicating that the name's once-prominent status had waned significantly by this time. Overall, from 1903 to 1980, there were a total of 817 babies named Gorman.