Donald
A boys’ name of Scottish Gaelic origin, meaning world ruler; from Domhnall.
How Donald has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #441 |
| 2016 | #489 |
| 2017 | #486 |
| 2018 | #524 |
| 2019 | #552 |
| 2020 | #608 |
| 2021 | #594 |
| 2022 | #676 |
| 2023 | #657 |
| 2024 | #672 |
| 2025 | #690 |
Donald by the numbers
In 2025, 18 babies in England and Wales were named Donald. In the US, 594 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 30,407 babies in 1934, so it is a 1930s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1935, about 1 in 36 American boys born that year was called Donald.
Names that come from Donald
Forms of Donald in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Donald. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Other names that mean a king or ruler
Like Donald, each of these has a king or ruler in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Henryruler of the home2,295 in England and Wales (2025)
- Averyruler of the elves10,365 in the US (2017)
- Ryanlittle king; descendent of rian8,422 in the US (2017)
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
- Arthurbear; the legendary king3,211 in England and Wales (2025)
- Reaganlittle king3,211 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Donald
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