Donald
Donald: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdɒn.əld/ · /ˈdɑn.əld/
Meaning and origin of Donald
Root meaning: “prince / chief of the world”
- A male given name from Scottish Gaelic.
Etymology
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 Donald?
Since 1880, 5,563 girls and 1,414,824 boys in the U.S. have been named Donald (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #507 in 1930. Its highest rank for boys was #6 in 1934. In 2025 it ranked #690 for boys, with 395 babies given the name.
Names similar to Donald
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Scottish boy names
Sibling name ideas for Donald
Sister and brother names that share Donald's Scottish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Donald FAQ
What does the name Donald mean?
Donald traces back to a root meaning "prince / chief of the world". A male given name from Scottish Gaelic. 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.
What is the origin of the name Donald?
Donald is listed as a name of Scottish origin.
How popular is the name Donald?
Since 1880, 5,563 girls and 1,414,824 boys in the U.S. have been named Donald (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #507 in 1930. Its highest rank for boys was #6 in 1934. In 2025 it ranked #690 for boys, with 395 babies given the name.
Is Donald a boy or girl name?
Donald is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 5,563 girls and 1,414,824 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.