Donato is an Italian masculine given name derived from the Latin word 'donatus', which means "given". The name was particularly popular in southern Italy and among the nobility during the Middle Ages.
The origin of the name can be traced back to Saint Donatus, a bishop of Arezzo who lived in the 4th century. Saint Donatus was known for his devotion to the Christian faith and his generous acts towards the poor. Due to his popularity as a saint, his name became widely used among Christians throughout Europe.
In literature, Donato is also associated with the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, who named one of the characters in his novel "Don Quixote" Donato, a friend of the main character.
Today, Donato remains a popular name in Italy and other parts of Southern Europe. It is often shortened to variations such as Donatello or Donato. Despite its long history and widespread use, Donato has maintained its unique charm and continues to be chosen by parents for their sons.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe the popularity of the name Donato over the years in the United States.
The name first appeared in the top 1000 names list in 1890 with 5 births that year. It maintained this level of popularity throughout the early 1900s, with a slight increase to 6 births in both 1908 and 1910.
The popularity of Donato began to rise significantly in the 1910s. There were 21 births in 1912, which more than quadrupled from the previous decade's average. This upward trend continued into the 1920s, reaching a peak of 54 births in 1926.
However, popularity began to decline in the late 1920s and early 1930s, with an average of around 25 births per year during this period. This trend continued into the 1940s, with numbers dropping below 30 each year.
The name Donato experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, reaching an average of around 25 births per year during this period. This level of popularity was maintained until the mid-1980s, after which numbers began to fluctuate.
In recent years, the popularity of Donato has remained relatively stable, with an average of around 25 births per year between 2011 and 2023. The highest number of births in this period was 31 in both 2016 and 2019.
Overall, while Donato may not be one of the most popular names in the United States, it has maintained a consistent level of popularity over the years. With a total of 3095 births since 1890, the name remains a classic choice for parents looking for a distinctive and meaningful name for their child.