Donn Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Dawn //dɒn//
Origin: Irish; Gaelic
Meaning: Irish: brown; Gaelic: chief
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Donn has its roots in the Old Irish word "donn," which translates to "brown" or "dark." This term is derived from Proto-Celtic *donnos, which also means "brown." The name has evolved through various forms in the Celtic languages, maintaining its association with color. In the context of Irish mythology, Donn is often associated with the god of the dead, who is considered a significant figure in the Otherworld, thus imbuing the name with a layer of cultural and spiritual significance.
Historically, the name Donn has been borne by various notable figures, particularly in Irish folklore and mythology. One of the most prominent figures is Donn, the god of the dead, who is mentioned in the "Book of Invasions" (Lebor Gabála Érenn), a collection of mythological narratives compiled in the 11th century.
This text outlines the ancient history of Ireland and its peoples, linking the name to themes of death and the afterlife. Additionally, the name has been used in various forms throughout Irish history, appearing in medieval texts and inscriptions.
Culturally, the name Donn has resonated within Irish tradition, often symbolizing strength and resilience. It has been associated with various legends and tales, reinforcing its place in the cultural consciousness of Ireland.
The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as Donal or Donagh, which have been used historically, though Donn itself remains a significant name in its own right. Overall, the name encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural threads that highlight its enduring legacy.
Famous people named Donn
In this section, you will find notable people named Donn. 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 Donn who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Donn 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.
Donn Byrne is an author best known for The Last of the Irish, The Last of the Irish, and The Last of the Irish.
Donn Davis is a businessman best known for founding the company that developed the first commercial 3D printer, and for his work in the field of rapid prototyping.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Donn, 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 Donn. 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 Donn was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Donn has ranked as high as #680 nationally, which occurred in 1949, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Donn has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Donn 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 Donn was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Donn (1974)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 5 |
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 Donn.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 1999 | 5 |
| 1998 | 10 |
| 1997 | 11 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1994 | 6 |
| 1993 | 6 |
| 1992 | 7 |
| 1991 | 10 |
| 1990 | 15 |
| 1989 | 18 |
| 1988 | 22 |
| 1987 | 24 |
| 1986 | 19 |
| 1985 | 19 |
| 1984 | 16 |
| 1983 | 21 |
| 1982 | 14 |
| 1981 | 24 |
| 1980 | 30 |
| 1979 | 29 |
| 1978 | 23 |
| 1977 | 32 |
| 1976 | 39 |
| 1975 | 42 |
| 1974 | 37 |
| 1973 | 50 |
| 1972 | 63 |
| 1971 | 58 |
| 1970 | 85 |
| 1969 | 82 |
| 1968 | 88 |
| 1967 | 85 |
| 1966 | 73 |
| 1965 | 70 |
| 1964 | 113 |
| 1963 | 97 |
| 1962 | 103 |
| 1961 | 112 |
| 1960 | 141 |
| 1959 | 149 |
| 1958 | 156 |
| 1957 | 171 |
| 1956 | 147 |
| 1955 | 193 |
| 1954 | 168 |
| 1953 | 190 |
| 1952 | 182 |
| 1951 | 216 |
| 1950 | 250 |
| 1949 | 341 |
| 1948 | 157 |
| 1947 | 121 |
| 1946 | 131 |
| 1945 | 102 |
| 1944 | 92 |
| 1943 | 83 |
| 1942 | 97 |
| 1941 | 85 |
| 1940 | 85 |
| 1939 | 80 |
| 1938 | 86 |
| 1937 | 70 |
| 1936 | 66 |
| 1935 | 75 |
| 1934 | 96 |
| 1933 | 87 |
| 1932 | 92 |
| 1931 | 72 |
| 1930 | 103 |
| 1929 | 122 |
| 1928 | 96 |
| 1927 | 93 |
| 1926 | 93 |
| 1925 | 66 |
| 1924 | 51 |
| 1923 | 45 |
| 1922 | 40 |
| 1921 | 38 |
| 1920 | 27 |
| 1919 | 16 |
| 1918 | 26 |
| 1917 | 26 |
| 1916 | 24 |
| 1915 | 19 |
| 1914 | 14 |
| 1913 | 13 |
| 1912 | 7 |