Donald is a name of Scottish origin that means "proud chief". It is derived from the Old Gaelic name Domhnall, which is composed of the elements "dòmhnaich" meaning "worldwide" or "universal", and "-ll" meaning "chief".
The name Donald has been used in Scotland for centuries, with the first recorded use being in the 12th century. It was a popular name among the Scottish nobility, with several kings of Scotland bearing the name, including Donald II who ruled from 889 to 900.
Donald also has connections to Irish and Norse mythology. In Irish legend, Donald is one of the names of the hero known as Donn, while in Norse mythology, Donald is associated with the god Thor, who was sometimes called Thondar or Thunder-Donald.
Today, Donald remains a popular name in Scotland and around the world. It has been worn by many notable figures throughout history, including American presidents Donald Trump and Donald Duck, the famous cartoon character created by Walt Disney. However, despite these connections to politics and pop culture, the name Donald stands independently as a strong and proud Scottish name with its own rich history and meaning.
The name Donald has been popular among parents in the United States for over a century, with its popularity peaking in the mid-20th century.
According to the Social Security Administration's data on baby names, the name Donald first gained significant traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1880, there were only 46 births named Donald, but this number steadily increased over time. By 1907, the number of newborn boys named Donald had reached 616, and by 1927, it had surpassed 23,000.
The name Donald reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s. In 1948, a total of 8,758 boys were named Donald at birth—a figure that was nearly matched again in 1952 with 8,614 newborn Donalds.
However, starting in the late 1960s, the name Donald began to fall out of favor. By the 1970s, the number of boys named Donald had decreased significantly, with only 3,217 newborn Donalds in 1974. This downward trend continued throughout the subsequent decades.
Today, the name Donald is no longer among the top choices for parents in the United States. In recent years, the annual count of newborn boys named Donald has typically ranged from around 300 to 500 births per year.
As of 2021, a total of 141,398 baby boys have been named Donald since the Social Security Administration began recording baby names in 1937. Despite its decline in popularity over recent decades, the name Donald remains a historic standard-bearer for American baby names throughout much of the 20th century.