Doney
Of English origin, a diminutive form of the name Donatian.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Doney. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 50.0% of registrations being female. The average person named Doney today is around 92 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Doney births was 1922 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Doney. 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 Doney is about 92 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Doneys were born before 1944.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Doney. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1922
5 babies that year
Average age
92
years old
1934 SSA rank
#3,812
Tracked since 1922
Gender
Gender distribution for Doney
Doney is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 10 total registrations, 5 (50.0%) were male and 5 (50.0%) were female.
Doney as a male name
- Ranked #3,812 in 1934
- 5 male births in 1934
- Peak: 1934 (5 births)
Doney as a female name
- Ranked #5,202 in 1922
- 5 female births in 1922
- Peak: 1922 (5 births)
Popularity
Doney: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Doney from the 1920s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 5 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
Doney 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 Doney 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 Doney
The given name Doney is believed to have its origins in the Gaelic language, which was spoken in various regions of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. The name is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word "donn," which means "brown" or "dark-haired." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone with a distinct physical characteristic, such as having dark hair or a tanned complexion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Doney can be found in ancient Irish folklore and mythology. In the medieval Irish tale "The Cattle Raid of Cooley," a character named Doney is mentioned as a warrior who fought alongside the legendary hero Cú Chulainn. This literary reference suggests that the name was in use as early as the 8th or 9th century AD.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Doney. In the 13th century, there was a Scottish nobleman named Doney MacLeod (c. 1220 - 1290), who played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. Another historical figure was Doney O'Brien (1532 - 1614), an Irish chieftain and military leader who defended his lands against English colonization efforts.
In the realm of literature, one of the most renowned individuals with the name Doney was the Irish poet and translator Doney Byrne (1888 - 1967). Byrne was a prominent figure in the Irish literary revival movement and was known for his translations of ancient Gaelic poetry into English.
Moving into more recent times, Doney Hathaway (1945 - 1979) was an American soul singer and songwriter whose powerful vocals and emotional delivery influenced generations of musicians. Her renditions of songs like "You've Got a Friend" and "For All We Know" have become timeless classics.
Another notable figure was Doney Kendall (1917 - 2015), an American actress and singer who enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. She appeared in numerous films and television shows, including her role as the recurring character Miss DeWitt in the sitcom "Green Acres."
While the name Doney may not be as common in modern times, its historical roots and connections to various cultural and artistic figures throughout the centuries have left an indelible mark on its legacy and significance.
People
Doney + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Doney 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
Doney: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Doney?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Doney 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 Doney a common name?
We classify Doney 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, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Doney most popular?
The single biggest year for Doney was 1922, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Doney is about 92 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 Doney in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Doney a female name?
Yes, 50.0% of people registered as Doney 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.
Is Doney still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Doney 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 Doney 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 named Doney?
Find out how many Americans are named Doney on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.