Dawnell
Feminine name meaning "morning" or "brilliant dawn".
Name Census estimates that about 317 living Americans carry the first name Dawnell. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dawnell today is around 55 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dawnell births was 1968 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dawnell. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
317
~ 1 in 1,081,244 Americans
Peak year
1968
25 babies that year
Average age
55
years old
1988 SSA rank
#12,263
Tracked since 1951
Popularity
Dawnell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dawnell from the 1950s through to the 1980s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 149 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Dawnell remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dawnell by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dawnell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Dawnells live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Louisiana, Washington recorded the most babies named Dawnell, while Washington, Louisiana, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 11 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dawnell
Dawnell is a relatively modern English name that emerged in the late 20th century. It is a feminized variation of the masculine name Dawnell, which is derived from the Old English word "dægenan" meaning "to dawn" or "daybreak." The name is associated with the dawn, the first appearance of light in the morning sky.
The name Dawnell does not have a long historical lineage or any significant cultural or religious associations. It appears to be a creative invention, likely inspired by the natural phenomenon of the dawn and the symbolic connotations of new beginnings, fresh starts, and the promise of a new day.
As a relatively new name, there are no notable historical figures or celebrities from ancient times or the Middle Ages who bore the name Dawnell. However, here are a few individuals from more recent history who have been known by this first name:
1. Dawnell Arynn (born 1976) - American actress and model, known for her roles in television series such as "Spin City" and "The Division."
2. Dawnell Jackson (born 1977) - American singer and songwriter, best known for her work in the Christian music genre.
3. Dawnell Scarpelli (born 1982) - American volleyball player who competed professionally and represented the United States national team.
4. Dawnell Coar (born 1965) - American businesswoman and entrepreneur, co-founder of the online fashion retailer Zulily.
5. Dawnell Smith (born 1968) - American author and motivational speaker, known for her work in the self-help and personal growth genre.
While the name Dawnell may not have a rich historical background, its association with the dawn and the symbolism of new beginnings has likely contributed to its popularity in modern times, particularly among parents seeking unique and meaningful names for their children.
People
Dawnell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dawnell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dawnell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dawnell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 317 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dawnell going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,081,244 US residents.
Is Dawnell a common name?
We classify Dawnell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 369 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dawnell most popular?
The single biggest year for Dawnell was 1968, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dawnell is about 55 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dawnell a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dawnell in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.