Donall
A masculine Irish given name originating from the Gaelic Domhnall meaning "world ruler".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Donall. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Donall today is around 68 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Donall births was 1957 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Donall. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Donall with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Donall is about 68 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Donalls were born before 1968.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Donall. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1957
5 babies that year
Average age
68
years old
1957 SSA rank
#4,132
Tracked since 1957
Popularity
Donall: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Donall 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 Donall during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Donall
The given name Donall has its origins in the ancient Gaelic language of Ireland and Scotland. It is derived from the old Irish word "domhnall" which translates to "world ruler" or "world mighty". The name was popular among the Celtic tribes and kingdoms that inhabited the British Isles during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Donall can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The text mentions a figure named Donall mac Muirchertaig who was the King of Tara in the 9th century AD. This suggests that the name was widely used among the Irish nobility and ruling class during that time.
In the 11th century, a Scottish king named Donall Bán (Donall the Fair) ruled over parts of what is now modern-day Scotland. He was a member of the House of Alpin and is remembered for his efforts to consolidate the power of the Scottish monarchy. Donall Bán's reign marked an important period in the history of Scotland, as it saw the gradual unification of the various Scottish kingdoms.
Another notable figure bearing the name Donall was Donall Ua Briain, a 12th-century King of Thomond in Ireland. He was a member of the powerful O'Brien dynasty and is remembered for his military campaigns against the Anglo-Norman invaders of Ireland. Donall Ua Briain's reign was marked by fierce resistance against the English forces, and he played a significant role in the preservation of Irish culture and independence.
In the 13th century, a Scottish nobleman named Donall Dubh (Donall the Black) was a prominent figure in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce against the English during the Scottish struggle for sovereignty. Donall Dubh's bravery and loyalty to the Scottish cause earned him a place in the annals of Scottish history.
Another notable bearer of the name was Donall Cam O'Sullivan Beare, an Irish chieftain from the 16th century. He led a famous march across Ireland in 1603, known as the "Flight of the Earls", in an effort to escape English persecution. Donall Cam's journey, which involved traversing treacherous terrain and evading enemy forces, has become a legendary tale of resilience and fortitude in Irish folklore.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who bore the name Donall. While its use may have waned in modern times, the name remains a proud testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Celtic peoples and their enduring legacy in the British Isles.
People
Donall + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Donall 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
Donall: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Donall?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Donall 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Donall a common name?
We classify Donall as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Donall most popular?
The single biggest year for Donall was 1957, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Donall is about 68 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Donall in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Donall a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Donall in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Donall still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Donall in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Donall can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Donall?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.