Donn Boy

Popularity: — · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

SeanLiamAidanNiallColinRyan

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.

DonalDonnanDorianDuncanDylanRonConanFinn

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Donn was first seen in the United States in 1912.

Donn has ranked as high as #793 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2024 5 5 0
2023 5 5 0
2019 8 8 0
2016 6 6 0
2015 5 5 0
2013 5 5 0
2007 6 6 0
2006 6 6 0
2005 6 6 0
2002 6 6 0
2001 5 5 0
2000 17 17 0
1999 5 5 0
1998 10 10 0
1997 11 11 0
1996 9 9 0
1995 6 6 0
1994 6 6 0
1993 6 6 0
1992 7 7 0
1991 10 10 0
1990 15 15 0
1989 18 18 0
1988 22 22 0
1987 24 24 0
1986 19 19 0
1985 19 19 0
1984 16 16 0
1983 21 21 0
1982 14 14 0
1981 24 24 0
1980 30 30 0
1979 29 29 0
1978 31 23 8
1977 32 32 0
1976 39 39 0
1975 42 42 0
1974 37 37 0
1973 50 50 0
1972 68 63 5
1971 64 58 6
1970 85 85 0
1969 82 82 0
1968 94 88 6
1967 85 85 0
1966 73 73 0
1965 75 70 5
1964 119 113 6
1963 97 97 0
1962 110 103 7
1961 119 112 7
1960 148 141 7
1959 149 149 0
1958 156 156 0
1957 171 171 0
1956 147 147 0
1955 193 193 0
1954 168 168 0
1953 190 190 0
1952 182 182 0
1951 221 216 5
1950 250 250 0
1949 341 341 0
1948 157 157 0
1947 121 121 0
1946 131 131 0
1945 102 102 0
1944 92 92 0
1943 83 83 0
1942 97 97 0
1941 85 85 0
1940 85 85 0
1939 80 80 0
1938 86 86 0
1937 70 70 0
1936 66 66 0
1935 75 75 0
1934 96 96 0
1933 87 87 0
1932 92 92 0
1931 72 72 0
1930 103 103 0
1929 122 122 0
1928 96 96 0
1927 93 93 0
1926 93 93 0
1925 66 66 0
1924 51 51 0
1923 45 45 0
1922 40 40 0
1921 38 38 0
1920 27 27 0
1919 16 16 0
1918 26 26 0
1917 26 26 0
1916 24 24 0
1915 19 19 0
1914 14 14 0
1913 13 13 0
1912 7 7 0

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
PA 5
100%