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BabyNames
Boy name#19 of boy names

Donald

Pronounced D AA1 N AH0 L D (ARPABET)

  • 2 syllables
  • Peaked 1934
  • 145 years in use
  • 1 spelling
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How popular is Donald?

Donald is a boys' name, and has been in the record since the data starts in 1880. It has been given to 1,420,366 children — the 19th most common boys' name on record.

It has been slipping, down 42% on the previous decade. Its best single year was 1934, when 30,407 children were given it.

Donnald is counted with it here, since the two are pronounced identically.

012,50025,00037,50050,00018901920195019802010
1934Boys: 30,407Girls: 110

Spelling variants

These spellings sound identical to Donald and are counted together with it, which is why the totals here are higher than a single-spelling count.

  • Donnald

Nicknames

Common short forms: Don, Donnie.

Characteristics

  • Alliterative
  • 2 syllables
Phonetic detail
Pronunciations:
D AA1 N AH0 L D
Stress pattern:
10
Syllables:
2

Stress digits mark unstressed (0), primary (1) and secondary (2) syllables.

Names like Donald

Same first letter and syllable count, peaking around the same time.

Sibling names for Donald

Names from the same era with a matching rhythm but a different initial.

Frequently asked questions

How popular is the name Donald?
Donald ranks 19th among boys' names in US records, with 1,420,366 births since 1880. Over the past decade it accounts for 5,117.
Is Donald a unisex name?
No. Donald is recorded almost entirely as a boys' name; births to the other gender are too few to register as a share.
When was Donald most popular?
1934, when 30,407 children were given the name. It has been in use for 145 years and is still recorded as of 2024.
What are common nicknames for Donald?
Don, Donnie. These are recorded as separate names in their own right, so each has its own page and its own popularity curve.
How else is Donald spelled?
Donnald. All of these sound the same and are counted together in the totals on this page.