Donald Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DAHN-uhld //ˈdɒn.əld//
Origin: Scottish; Gaelic
Meaning: Scottish: world ruler; Gaelic: ruler of the world
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Donald has its roots in the Gaelic name Domhnall, which is composed of the elements "domhan," meaning "world," and "all," meaning "mighty" or "ruler." This name was prevalent in early medieval Scotland, where it was borne by several notable figures, including Donald I, who reigned as King of the Scots in the late 9th century. The name was later Latinized as Donatus in some contexts, which contributed to its spread through various regions and languages.
Throughout the centuries, Donald has been associated with various historical milestones. One significant figure is Donald II, who became King of the Scots in the early 10th century.
The name also appears in the annals of Scottish history, particularly during the turbulent times of clan conflicts and the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The name's presence in literature can be traced back to works such as the "Chronicles of the Kings of Scotland," which document the lineage of Scottish monarchs.
Culturally, the name Donald carries connotations of strength and leadership, reflective of its meaning. It has been a popular name among Scottish clans, often symbolizing a connection to heritage and tradition.
The diminutive form, Don, has also been used historically, though it is less formal. The name's endurance can be attributed to its deep roots in Scottish history and its association with nobility and power, making it a significant name within the cultural landscape of Scotland.
Famous people named Donald
In this section, you will find notable people named Donald. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Donald who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Donald who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Donald Trump is a businessman and television personality best known for The Apprentice, his presidency, and real estate ventures.
Donald Glover is an actor, writer, and musician best known for Atlanta, Community, and his music under the name Childish Gambino.
Donald Sutherland is an actor best known for M*A*S*H, The Hunger Games, and Ordinary People.
Donald Fagen is a musician best known as the co-founder of Steely Dan and for his solo album The Nightfly.
Donald O'Connor is an actor and dancer best known for Singin' in the Rain, Francis, and his work in musical films.
Fictional characters named Donald
The following list of fictional characters named Donald is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Donald Duck is a fictional character from the Disney franchise. He is a hot-tempered yet lovable anthropomorphic duck known for his distinctive voice and comedic misadventures.
Donald Glover is a fictional character from the TV series Community. He is a kind-hearted and often naive member of a diverse study group at a community college.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Donald, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Donald. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Donald was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Donald has ranked as high as #8 nationally, which occurred in 1934, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and California.
In the past 5 years the name Donald has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Donald is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Donald was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Donald (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 32 | |
| TX | 29 | |
| OH | 24 | |
| PA | 24 | |
| FL | 23 | |
| GA | 20 | |
| NY | 18 | |
| MI | 17 | |
| IL | 17 | |
| NC | 15 | |
| IN | 13 | |
| WA | 12 | |
| AL | 11 | |
| MO | 11 | |
| LA | 10 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Donald.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 405 |
| 2023 | 415 |
| 2022 | 402 |
| 2021 | 468 |
| 2020 | 449 |
| 2019 | 513 |
| 2018 | 541 |
| 2017 | 603 |
| 2016 | 625 |
| 2015 | 696 |
| 2014 | 738 |
| 2013 | 710 |
| 2012 | 729 |
| 2011 | 788 |
| 2010 | 765 |
| 2009 | 839 |
| 2008 | 992 |
| 2007 | 999 |
| 2006 | 1,098 |
| 2005 | 1,150 |
| 2004 | 1,251 |
| 2003 | 1,308 |
| 2002 | 1,289 |
| 2001 | 1,470 |
| 2000 | 1,609 |
| 1999 | 1,747 |
| 1998 | 1,862 |
| 1997 | 1,970 |
| 1996 | 2,184 |
| 1995 | 2,252 |
| 1994 | 2,652 |
| 1993 | 2,996 |
| 1992 | 3,266 |
| 1991 | 3,650 |
| 1990 | 4,177 |
| 1989 | 4,323 |
| 1988 | 4,329 |
| 1987 | 4,501 |
| 1986 | 4,662 |
| 1985 | 4,750 |
| 1984 | 5,062 |
| 1983 | 5,327 |
| 1982 | 5,712 |
| 1981 | 5,911 |
| 1980 | 6,268 |
| 1979 | 6,509 |
| 1978 | 6,423 |
| 1977 | 6,866 |
| 1976 | 6,795 |
| 1975 | 7,196 |
| 1974 | 7,759 |
| 1973 | 8,361 |
| 1972 | 9,261 |
| 1971 | 10,873 |
| 1970 | 12,397 |
| 1969 | 12,777 |
| 1968 | 13,360 |
| 1967 | 14,226 |
| 1966 | 14,713 |
| 1965 | 16,033 |
| 1964 | 18,050 |
| 1963 | 18,896 |
| 1962 | 20,422 |
| 1961 | 21,409 |
| 1960 | 22,734 |
| 1959 | 23,877 |
| 1958 | 25,015 |
| 1957 | 27,909 |
| 1956 | 28,226 |
| 1955 | 27,727 |
| 1954 | 29,279 |
| 1953 | 28,360 |
| 1952 | 28,269 |
| 1951 | 27,915 |
| 1950 | 26,999 |
| 1949 | 27,121 |
| 1948 | 26,443 |
| 1947 | 28,260 |
| 1946 | 26,271 |
| 1945 | 22,139 |
| 1944 | 23,466 |
| 1943 | 24,420 |
| 1942 | 23,956 |
| 1941 | 22,640 |
| 1940 | 23,113 |
| 1939 | 24,055 |
| 1938 | 26,677 |
| 1937 | 27,869 |
| 1936 | 28,640 |
| 1935 | 29,673 |
| 1934 | 30,407 |
| 1933 | 28,450 |
| 1932 | 29,792 |
| 1931 | 29,102 |
| 1930 | 29,051 |
| 1929 | 27,181 |
| 1928 | 25,705 |
| 1927 | 23,834 |
| 1926 | 20,912 |
| 1925 | 19,193 |
| 1924 | 17,929 |
| 1923 | 16,433 |
| 1922 | 14,913 |
| 1921 | 13,776 |
| 1920 | 11,941 |
| 1919 | 9,904 |
| 1918 | 9,972 |
| 1917 | 8,729 |
| 1916 | 7,737 |
| 1915 | 7,115 |
| 1914 | 4,835 |
| 1913 | 3,703 |
| 1912 | 2,872 |
| 1911 | 1,275 |
| 1910 | 860 |
| 1909 | 725 |
| 1908 | 664 |
| 1907 | 616 |
| 1906 | 486 |
| 1905 | 425 |
| 1904 | 413 |
| 1903 | 359 |
| 1902 | 366 |
| 1901 | 250 |
| 1900 | 328 |
| 1899 | 258 |
| 1898 | 238 |
| 1897 | 195 |
| 1896 | 211 |
| 1895 | 203 |
| 1894 | 169 |
| 1893 | 166 |
| 1892 | 137 |
| 1891 | 100 |
| 1890 | 109 |
| 1889 | 75 |
| 1888 | 77 |
| 1887 | 60 |
| 1886 | 57 |
| 1885 | 47 |
| 1884 | 59 |
| 1883 | 52 |
| 1882 | 48 |
| 1881 | 27 |
| 1880 | 46 |