Donjae
A masculine Korean name meaning "gift from God".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Donjae. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Donjae today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Donjae births was 1989 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Donjae. 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 Donjae. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1989
5 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
2003 SSA rank
#11,358
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Donjae: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Donjae from the 1980s through to the 2000s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, 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
Donjae 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 Donjae 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 Donjae
The name Donjae is believed to have originated from the Korean language, with its roots likely tracing back to the 15th or 16th century. It is a compound name formed by combining the Korean words "don" and "jae," which together signify a meaning along the lines of "precious" or "valuable." This name is particularly prevalent in Korean culture and has been used for centuries to name male children.
While the exact origins of the name Donjae are somewhat obscure, there are records of its usage in historical Korean texts and documents from the late Goryeo and early Joseon dynasties. Some scholars suggest that the name may have been derived from an older Korean word or phrase that has since fallen out of common usage.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Donjae was a Korean scholar and poet who lived during the late 16th century. His full name was Donjae Yi Hwang, and he was renowned for his expertise in Confucian philosophy and his contributions to Korean literature.
Another notable figure bearing the name Donjae was a prominent military leader during the Imjin War, a conflict between Korea and Japan in the late 16th century. Donjae Kim Shi-min was a skilled strategist who played a vital role in defending Korea against Japanese invasion forces.
In the 19th century, a Buddhist monk named Donjae Choi Yeong-eung gained recognition for his teachings and his efforts to preserve traditional Korean Buddhist practices. He was instrumental in the establishment of several important temples and monastic communities during his lifetime.
Moving into the 20th century, Donjae Park Chung-hee was a renowned Korean painter and calligrapher who was celebrated for his innovative techniques and his ability to blend traditional Korean art forms with modern styles. He was active in the mid-20th century and is regarded as one of the most influential Korean artists of his time.
Another notable figure with the name Donjae was Donjae Kim Yong-sam, a Korean politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of South Korea in the late 1990s. He played a pivotal role in the country's transition to democracy and was widely respected for his commitment to human rights and economic development.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Donjae, a name that has endured and maintained its significance within Korean culture for centuries.
People
Donjae + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Donjae 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
Donjae: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Donjae?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Donjae 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Donjae a common name?
We classify Donjae as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% 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 Donjae most popular?
The single biggest year for Donjae was 1989, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Donjae is about 29 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 Donjae in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Donjae a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Donjae 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 Donjae still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Donjae 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 Donjae 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 Donjae as a first name?
If you just want to know how many Americans are named Donjae, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.