Donae
A feminine variant name of Latin origin meaning "gift of God".
Name Census estimates that about 197 living Americans carry the first name Donae. It is a predominantly female name (97.0% of registrations). The average person named Donae today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Donae births was 2004 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Donae. 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
197
~ 1 in 1,739,870 Americans
Peak year
2004
15 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
1974 SSA rank
#4,782
Tracked since 1974
Gender
Gender distribution for Donae
Donae leans heavily female at 97.0% of total registrations, but 6 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Donae as a male name
- Ranked #4,782 in 1974
- 6 male births in 1974
- Peak: 1974 (6 births)
Donae as a female name
- Ranked #16,946 in 2016
- 5 female births in 2016
- Peak: 2004 (15 births)
Popularity
Donae: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Donae from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 80 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Donae 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 Donae during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Donae
The name Donae is derived from the Latin word "donare," which means "to give" or "to present." It is believed to have originated during the Roman Empire, a time when Latin was widely spoken throughout the Mediterranean region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Donae can be found in ancient Roman texts, where it was used as a feminine name. It is likely that the name was given to girls born into families who valued the concept of generosity and gift-giving.
During the Middle Ages, the name Donae gained popularity among Christian communities, particularly in Europe. It was often associated with the idea of giving oneself to God or to a religious cause. Several historical records from this period mention nuns and religious women bearing the name Donae.
In the Renaissance era, the name Donae became more widespread and was used by families across various social classes. One notable figure from this time was Donae de' Medici (1469-1516), a member of the famous Medici family in Florence, Italy. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support of Renaissance artists and scholars.
Another prominent individual with the name Donae was Donae Bragança (1638-1683), a Portuguese princess who later became the Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II. Her influence and cultural impact during the Restoration period have been well documented.
In the 18th century, Donae Cavendish (1708-1762), a British aristocrat and writer, gained recognition for her literary works and her involvement in the intellectual circles of her time.
During the 19th century, the name Donae was particularly popular in parts of Europe, including France and Italy. One notable figure was Donae Durand (1830-1899), a French painter and sculptor who was celebrated for her portraits and allegorical works.
As the name Donae continued to spread across different cultures and regions, it took on various spellings and variations, such as Donae, Donaea, and Donaia. However, the underlying meaning of "to give" or "to present" remained consistent throughout its history.
People
Donae + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Donae 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
Donae: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Donae?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 197 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Donae 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 1,739,870 US residents.
Is Donae a common name?
We classify Donae as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 203 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Donae most popular?
The single biggest year for Donae was 2004, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Donae is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Donae a female name?
Yes, 97.0% of people registered as Donae 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.