Donald Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Donald is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Donald?
Donald is spelled D-O-N-A-L-D. The name has 6 letters.
Donald at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Donald means “ruler of the world” or “world mighty.”
- Origin
- Donald is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, commonly associated with the Gaelic name Dòmhnall.
- Pronunciation
- DAH-nuhld · 2 syllables
Donald Popularity in 2025
Rank#690
Recorded Births395
- Boys usage fell 17 places to #690 and recorded 13 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Donald Mean?
Donald means “ruler of the world” or “world mighty.”
Origin: Donald is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, commonly associated with the Gaelic name Dòmhnall.
How Do You Pronounce Donald?
PronunciationDAH-nuhld
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Donald?
- History
- The name Donald has been traditionally used in Scotland and among Scottish descendants, including some historical Scottish figures.
Donald Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 395 | #690 |
| 2024 | Boys | 408 | #673 |
| 2023 | Boys | 415 | #659 |
| 2022 | Boys | 403 | #676 |
| 2021 | Boys | 468 | #596 |
| 2020 | Boys | 450 | #608 |
| 2019 | Boys | 513 | #549 |
| 2018 | Boys | 541 | #524 |
| 2017 | Boys | 603 | #486 |
| 2016 | Boys | 625 | #489 |
| 2015 | Boys | 696 | #440 |
| 2014 | Boys | 738 | #419 |
| 2013 | Boys | 711 | #415 |
| 2012 | Boys | 729 | #400 |
| 2011 | Boys | 788 | #377 |
| 2010 | Boys | 765 | #377 |
| 2009 | Boys | 839 | #363 |
| 2008 | Boys | 992 | #332 |
| 2007 | Boys | 999 | #321 |
| 2006 | Boys | 1,098 | #303 |
| 2005 | Boys | 1,150 | #289 |
| 2004 | Girls | 8 | #11,624 |
| 2004 | Boys | 1,251 | #263 |
| 2003 | Boys | 1,308 | #253 |
When Was Donald Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1934 · Boys
30,408 recorded births
National rank #6
1932 · Boys
29,794 recorded births
National rank #7
1935 · Boys
29,674 recorded births
National rank #7
1954 · Boys
29,279 recorded births
National rank #14
Where Donald Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MD | #437 | 11 |
| SC | #438 | 11 |
| AL | #450 | 11 |
| IA | #493 | 6 |
| CT | #498 | 5 |
| PA | #526 | 18 |
| KY | #526 | 8 |
| WA | #529 | 13 |