Donald Boy

Popularity: #561 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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
9%
TX 29
8%
OH 24
7%
PA 24
7%
FL 23
6%
GA 20
6%
NY 18
5%
MI 17
5%
IL 17
5%
NC 15
4%
IN 13
4%
WA 12
3%
AL 11
3%
MO 11
3%
LA 10
3%

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.

YearBirths
2024405
2023415
2022402
2021468
2020449
2019513
2018541
2017603
2016625
2015696
2014738
2013710
2012729
2011788
2010765
2009839
2008992
2007999
20061,098
20051,150
20041,251
20031,308
20021,289
20011,470
20001,609
19991,747
19981,862
19971,970
19962,184
19952,252
19942,652
19932,996
19923,266
19913,650
19904,177
19894,323
19884,329
19874,501
19864,662
19854,750
19845,062
19835,327
19825,712
19815,911
19806,268
19796,509
19786,423
19776,866
19766,795
19757,196
19747,759
19738,361
19729,261
197110,873
197012,397
196912,777
196813,360
196714,226
196614,713
196516,033
196418,050
196318,896
196220,422
196121,409
196022,734
195923,877
195825,015
195727,909
195628,226
195527,727
195429,279
195328,360
195228,269
195127,915
195026,999
194927,121
194826,443
194728,260
194626,271
194522,139
194423,466
194324,420
194223,956
194122,640
194023,113
193924,055
193826,677
193727,869
193628,640
193529,673
193430,407
193328,450
193229,792
193129,102
193029,051
192927,181
192825,705
192723,834
192620,912
192519,193
192417,929
192316,433
192214,913
192113,776
192011,941
19199,904
19189,972
19178,729
19167,737
19157,115
19144,835
19133,703
19122,872
19111,275
1910860
1909725
1908664
1907616
1906486
1905425
1904413
1903359
1902366
1901250
1900328
1899258
1898238
1897195
1896211
1895203
1894169
1893166
1892137
1891100
1890109
188975
188877
188760
188657
188547
188459
188352
188248
188127
188046