Dondray
A masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly a blend of the French names "Donald" and "Ray".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Dondray. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Dondray today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dondray births was 1992 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dondray. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dondray. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1992
6 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
1992 SSA rank
#7,710
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Dondray: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dondray from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dondray 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 Dondray 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 Dondray
The name Dondray is believed to have its origins in the African continent, likely stemming from the Yoruba language spoken in parts of West Africa, particularly Nigeria. It is thought to be a combination of two words, "don" meaning "to be born" and "dray" which is a variation of the word "ire" meaning "good fortune" or "blessing."
In the Yoruba culture, names often carry significant meaning and are carefully chosen to reflect the circumstances surrounding a child's birth or to express the hopes and aspirations of their parents. The name Dondray, therefore, could be interpreted as "born into good fortune" or "blessed birth."
While the exact origins of the name are not definitively documented, it is likely that Dondray emerged as a name in the Yoruba communities of Nigeria and neighboring regions over several centuries. As with many African names, it was likely passed down orally through generations before being recorded in written form.
One of the earliest documented instances of the name Dondray can be found in historical records from the 18th century, referring to a prominent Yoruba trader and diplomat known as Dondray Adelekan. Born in 1745, Adelekan played a crucial role in facilitating trade and diplomatic relations between the Yoruba people and European merchants and explorers.
Another notable figure with the name Dondray was Dondray Obafemi, a Nigerian writer and activist born in 1920. Obafemi was a vocal advocate for African independence and played a significant role in the Nigerian liberation movement against British colonial rule.
In the realm of sports, Dondray Johnson, an American football player born in 1985, made a name for himself as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played for several teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Dallas Cowboys, during his professional career.
The name Dondray has also been associated with academic and literary figures, such as Dondray Culpepper, an American author and professor of English literature born in 1962. Culpepper's works explored themes of identity, race, and cultural heritage, often drawing inspiration from his own experiences as an African American.
Finally, Dondray Wiseman, born in 1978, was a renowned artist and sculptor known for his intricate and thought-provoking installations. His works were exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States, garnering critical acclaim for their exploration of contemporary social issues and cultural narratives.
While the name Dondray may not be as widespread as some other names, it carries a rich cultural heritage and has been borne by individuals who have left their mark in various fields throughout history.
People
Dondray + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dondray 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
Dondray: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dondray?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dondray 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Dondray a common name?
We classify Dondray as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dondray most popular?
The single biggest year for Dondray was 1992, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dondray is about 39 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 Dondray in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dondray a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dondray 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 Dondray still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dondray 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 Dondray 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 are called Dondray?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Dondray on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.