How Many People Are Named Donald?
Complete statistics for the name Donald: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Donald comes from the Scottish Gaelic name Domhnall, meaning 'ruler of the world', and it's been a staple of American life for generations. About 662,438 Donalds are living in the US today, which works out to roughly 1 in 498 Americans. The wild part? Its peak was all the way back in 1934, when over 30,000 babies were named Donald in a single year.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 5 is traditionally associated with freedom, adventure, and a restless curiosity about the world. People connected to the number 5 are seen as adaptable and energetic, always drawn toward change and new experiences.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 78All 1,419,934 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1934Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Donald Through the Generations
Donald had one of the longest runs at the top of any American name, spending 70 years in the US top 10. That kind of staying power explains the massive all-time total of 1,419,934 births. But look at who's still here: only 662,438 living Donalds remain, meaning a huge portion of everyone ever given this name has already passed. That's a reflection of just how old this name skews. A striking 83% of living Donalds are over 60, and the average age sits at 78. Only 26,448 are under 30, compared to 1,182,617 over 60. Parents today just aren't choosing it, and the trend is firmly declining. Donald isn't disappearing overnight given those large older cohorts, but it's essentially a generational marker now, a name that peaked with the Greatest Generation and never really passed itself down.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Donald
Donald is a Scottish masculine given name. It is derived from the Gaelic name Dòmhnall. This comes from the Proto-Celtic *Dumno-ualos. The final -d in Donald is partly derived from a misinterpretation of the Gaelic pronunciation by English speakers. A short form of Donald is Don, and pet forms of Donald include Donnie and Donny. The feminine given name Donella is derived from Donald.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Donald's Scottish Gaelic roots
📄 About the Name Donald
How Many People Have the Name Donald?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 12,088 people in the United States currently share the name Donald. That works out to roughly 1 in every 27,420 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Donald a Common or Rare Name?
Donald is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Donald Mean?
Donald means "ruler of the world" and comes from Scottish Gaelic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Donald in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Donald Most Popular?
The name Donald reached peak popularity in 1934, with 30,517 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Donald?
Approximately 12,088 people named Donald live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 12,088. That works out to roughly 1 in 27,420 Americans.
Is Donald a rare name?
Donald is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 27,420 Americans has this name.
What does the name Donald mean?
Donald means "ruler of the world" and comes from Scottish Gaelic origins.
Is Donald more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Donald are male and 0% are female.
When was Donald most popular?
Donald peaked in 1934 with 30,517 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.