Doneld
English version of Gaelic name Domhnall, meaning "ruler of the world".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Doneld. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Doneld today is around 73 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Doneld births was 1933 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Doneld. 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
- • The typical person named Doneld is about 73 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Donelds were born before 1963.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Doneld. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1933
5 babies that year
Average age
73
years old
1933 SSA rank
#3,782
Tracked since 1933
Popularity
Doneld: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Doneld 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 Doneld during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Doneld
The name Doneld is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic words "donn" meaning brown and "eld" meaning fire or passion, suggesting a fiery or passionate personality. The name was initially used by the MacDouall clan, a prominent Scottish family with roots in the Isle of Mull and the surrounding islands.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Doneld can be found in the annals of the Kingdom of the Isles, where a chieftain named Doneld MacDouall is mentioned in the late 13th century. He was known for his fierce loyalty to the Scottish crown and his role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English.
In the 15th century, a notable figure named Doneld MacDouall of Lochbuie gained recognition for his military exploits and his influential position as the Chief of the Clan MacDouall. His descendants continued to use the name, preserving its legacy within the clan.
Outside of Scotland, the name Doneld gained some traction in Ireland, where it was likely influenced by the Irish name Dónall, meaning "world mighty." This variant was particularly popular among the O'Donnell clan, a prominent Irish family with roots in County Donegal.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Doneld. One such figure was Doneld O'Donnell, an Irish chieftain who lived in the late 16th century and played a crucial role in the Nine Years' War against English rule in Ireland.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Doneld Mackay, a Scottish soldier and writer who served in the British Army during the 18th century. He is best known for his memoir, "The Memoirs of an XVIII Century Footman," which provides valuable insights into the lives of Scottish soldiers during that era.
In the realm of literature, Doneld MacLean was a renowned Scottish poet and author of the 19th century. His works, including the epic poem "The Course of Time," explored themes of spirituality, nature, and the human condition.
More recently, Doneld Sutherland was a Scottish actor and filmmaker who gained recognition for his roles in films such as "The Eagle Has Landed" and "The Wicker Man." He was born in 1935 and passed away in 1994, leaving behind a legacy in the entertainment industry.
While the name Doneld may have fallen out of popular use in recent times, its rich history and connection to Scottish and Irish heritage make it a unique and meaningful choice for those seeking a name with deep cultural roots.
People
Doneld + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Doneld 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
Doneld: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Doneld?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Doneld 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Doneld a common name?
We classify Doneld as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% 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 Doneld most popular?
The single biggest year for Doneld was 1933, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Doneld is about 73 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 Doneld in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Doneld a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Doneld 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 Doneld still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Doneld 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 Doneld 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 Doneld?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.