The first name Donald

In 2025, 18 boys were named Donald, making it the 1,466th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2011, with 30 births (#944).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Donald with other names.

In 2025, 395 boys born in the United States were named Donald, the 690th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1934, when 30,408 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Spelled Donald in French, German, Polish and Swedish too.

Nicknames for Donald

• Don
• Donna
• Donny

• Donald Sutherland
  Canadian actor (1935–2024)
• Donald Knuth
  American computer scientist and mathematician (born 1938)
• Donald Rumsfeld
  American politician and diplomat (1932–2021)
• Donald Arthur Glaser
  American physicist and neurobiologist (1926–2013)
• Donald Pleasence
  British actor (1919–1995)
• Donald Glover
  American actor, comedian, musician, and filmmaker (born 1983)
• Donald Trump Jr.
  American businessman and reality television personality (born 1977)
• Donald J. Cram
  American chemist (1919–2001)
• Donald O'Connor
  American dancer, singer, and actor (1925-2003)
• Donald O. Hebb
  Canadian neuroscientist (1904–1985)
• Donald Davidson
  American philosopher (1917–2003)
• Donald Barthelme
  American writer, editor, and professor (1931–1989)

• Cameron
• Ian
• Callum
• Kenneth
• Ronald
• Finlay
• Roy
• Keith
• Malcolm
• Ross
• Ewan
• Angus
• Knox
• Lachlan
• Duncan
• Alistair

All 54 names of Scottish Gaelic origin

What does the name Donald mean?

Donald means “prince / chief of the world” in Scottish Gaelic.

What is the origin of the name Donald?

Name of Scottish kings and an early saint, from Scottish Gaelic Dòmhnall and reinforced by Medieval Latin Donvaldus ~ Donaldus, from Old Irish Domnall, from Proto-Celtic *Dubnowalos (“prince / chief of the world”). Doublet of Domhnall.

How popular is the name Donald?

In 2025, 18 boys born in England and Wales were named Donald, ranking 1,466th. Its peak was 2011, with 30 births.

What are nicknames for Donald?

Common nicknames for Donald include Don, Donna, Donny.

Is Donald a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 1,420,387 US babies named Donald since 1880 were boys.

When was Donald most popular?

1934 in the United States, when 30,408 babies were named Donald, its highest rank at 6th.

How do you pronounce Donald?

Donald is /ˈdɑn.əld/, 2 syllables.

Is Donald also a surname?

Yes. Donald is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.