Dulcie is an English feminine given name derived from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

''dulcis'', meaning ''

sweet Sweetness is a basic taste most commonly perceived when eating foods rich in sugars. Sweet tastes are generally regarded as pleasurable. In addition to sugars like sucrose, many other chemical compounds are sweet, including aldehydes, ketones, ...

''. It has been in use in the

Anglosphere The Anglosphere, also known as the Anglo-American world, is a Western-led sphere of influence among the Anglophone countries. The core group of this sphere of influence comprises five developed countries that maintain close social, cultura ...

since the 1800s. It was a recreation in a new form of ''Duce'', ''Douce'', or ''Dowse'', an older English name in use since the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

that was derived from the same Latin source word. ''Dulcia'' was a form of the name in use in the

Later Roman Empire In historiography, the Late or Later Roman Empire, traditionally covering the period from 284 CE to 641 CE, was a time of significant transformation in Roman governance, society, and religion. Diocletian's reforms, including the establishment of t ...

. ''Dulcis'' and ''Dulceta'' were both in use in records recorded in Latin in medieval France, where the name came from the Old French words ''dolz'' or ''dous'' and Middle French words ''doux'' and ''douce'', all also from the Latin ''dulcis''. The names ''Dolcis'' and ''Dulcis'' are found in Latin records in medieval Italy; ''Dulcia'' and ''Dulciae'' in Latin records in medieval Portugal. ''Dowsabel'' or ''Dousabel'', or ''Dulcibel'' or ''Dulcibella'' in modern English, was derived from the Latin ''dulcis'' in combination with ''bellus'', or '' beautiful'', and also had the connotation of '' sweetheart''. '' Dulce'' is a

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

form of the name that is often used in combination with the name '' Maria''. ''Dulce María'' is a

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be ins ...

used by

Catholics The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

for

Mary, mother of Jesus Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

that is sometimes translated into English as Blessed Mary or Blessed Virgin Mary. ''Dulcinea'' is a Spanish elaboration of the name popularized by its use by

Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ( ; ; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616 Old Style and New Style dates, NS) was a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelist ...

for an idealized imaginary female character in his novel ''

Don Quixote , the full title being ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'', is a Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, the novel is considered a founding work of Western literature and is of ...

''. ''Dulcinée'' is the French version of this name.

Usage

Dulcie has been among the top 1,000 names for girls in England and Wales since 1997. It was among the top 100 names for girls born in New Zealand between 1907 and 1931. It was among the top 1,000 names for girls born in the United States at different times between 1880 and 1905, but then declined in use. It was used for five American girls born in 2022.

Notable people

* Dulcie Boling (born 1936), Australian businesswoman and magazine editor * Hilary Dulcie Cobbett (1885–1976), English watercolor and oil painter * Dulcie Cooper (1903–1981), Australian actress * Dulcie Deamer (1890–1972), Australian novelist, poet, journalist and actor * Dulcie Foo Fat (born 1946), British-born Canadian landscape painter *

Dulcie Gray Dulcie Winifred Catherine Savage Denison (''née'' Bailey; 20 November 1915 – 15 November 2011), known professionally as Dulcie Gray, was a British actress, mystery writer and lepidopterist. While at drama school in the late 1930s she met a ...

(1915–2011), British actress * Dulcie Hartwell (1915–2012), South Africa trade union leader * Dulcie Holland (1913–2000), Australian composer and music educator * Dulcie Howes (1908–1993), South African ballet dancer * Dulcie Markham (1914–1976), Australian prostitute and associate of gangland figures * Dulcie Ethel Adunola Oguntoye (1923–2018), English-born Nigerian jurist who was the country's second female judge * Dulcie Mary Pillers (1891–1961), English medical illustrator *

Dulcie September Dulcie Evonne September (20 August 1935 – 29 March 1988) was a South African anti-apartheid political activist who was assassinated in Paris, France, in 1988. Early life The second eldest daughter of Jakobus and Susan September, September gre ...

(1935–1988), South African anti-apartheid political activist who was assassinated * Dulcie Tei (), Tongan politician * Dulcie Wood (), South Africa former cricketer

Fictional characters

* the title character of '' Defining Dulcie'', a young adult novel by Paul Acampora * the title character of '' Dulcie's Adventure'', a 1916 American silent film * a computer in " Dulcie and Decorum", a science fiction short story by Damon Knight * Dulcie Collins, one of the main characters in the Australian series '' Deadloch'' * Dulcie Duveen,

Arthur Hastings Captain Arthur J. M. Hastings, OBE, is a fictional character created by Agatha Christie as the companion-chronicler and best friend of the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. He is first introduced in Christie's 1920 novel '' The Mysterious Affa ...

' future wife in '' The Murder on the Links'' detective novel by Dame Agatha Christie * Dulcie Maes, in the film adaptation of ''

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' is a musical with a book by Texas author Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall. It is based on a story by King that was inspired by the real-life Chicken Ranch in La Grang ...

'' musical * Dulcie Wintle, in the 1957 children's novel '' Wintle's Wonders'' by

Noel Streatfeild Mary Noel Streatfeild OBE (24 December 1895 – 11 September 1986) was an English author, best known for children's books including the "Shoes" books, which were not a series (though some books made references to others). Random House, the U.S. ...

Notes

{{given name English feminine given names Feminine given names

Usage

Notable people

Fictional characters

See also

Notes