Donald
How to say it: DON-uld · /ˈdɑnəld/
From Scottish Gaelic 'Domhnall', meaning 'ruler of the world', from 'domhan' (world) + 'all' (mighty, great).
Donald was the 645th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 395 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1930s, its births are down about 43% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #739 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #645 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 395 |
| Share of births | 1 in 8,393 |
| Peak decade | 1930s |
| Change over 10 years | −43% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #739 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
The 1930s marked the height for Donald, and use has fallen far below that mark since. Decline is expected to continue in the near future.
What goes with it
Short and crisp in sound, Donald feels strong and solid. Harold and Douglas share its style.
Parents who love Donald also love
Nicknames
- Don
- Donnie
- Donny
Honouring a Donald in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Donald is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
Famous people named Donald
- Donald Trump (born 1946)President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
- Donald Tusk (born 1957)Prime Minister of Poland (2007–2014; since 2023)
- Donald Knuth (born 1938)American computer scientist and mathematician
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Donald Duck, Disney cartoon character debuted in 1934.
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