Origin, Meaning, And History Of Donald
The masculine name Donald has Scottish-Gaelic roots and has been around for centuries. Inspired by the Gaelic word ‘Dòmhnall,’ it means ‘ruler of the world. ‘Dòmhnall’ originates from the Proto-Celtic term ‘Dumno-ualos,’ which means ‘world-ruler.’ It is believed that the second ‘d’ in the name is a result of English speakers’ erroneous articulation of Scottish names. The name also has a Latin connection as it seems inspired by the name ‘Donvaldus.’ It is also a derivative of the Old Irish name ‘Domnall.’ In modern Irish, the name is cognate with ‘Dónal.’
Donald’s history can be traced back to the 9th century when Donald I became the first Christian king of Scotland. As many as six early Scottish kings bore this name. It was a popular name in Scotland and gained popularity in English-speaking countries in the 20th century.
Donald is not just a first name but also a surname. It is a short form of the last name MacDonald or McDonald. The surname Donald is also a shorter version of the Irish last name ‘O’Donell’ and is linked to surnames’ Donnelly’ and ‘Donovan.’ Some other surnames that seem inspired by the name include Donaldson and Donalds.
Not just a given name, but Donald is also the name of a town in the Shire of Buloke, western Victoria, Australia. It is also the name of two unincorporated communities in Georgia and Wisconsin.
It may not be wrong to name Walt Disney’s most celebrated animated character,Donald Duck,one of the most famous name bearers. The character Donald Farfrae in the novelThe Mayor of Casterbridgeis a Scotsman known to be favored by luck as he finds success in anything he does. In the movie,Zookeeper, Donald the Monkey is considered one of the zoo’s coolest animals. So, if you are looking for a classic name for your boy, Donald can be a good choice.
How To Pronounce Donald?
Famous People With The Name Donald
- Donald TrumpFormer American President and business tycoon
- Donald BradmanAustralian cricketer, considered the greatest batsman of all time
- Donald Adeosun FaisonAmerican actor, known for playing the popular character Dr. Chris Turk in the popular TV show, ‘Scrubs’
- Donald A. FossAmerican businessman, founder of finance Credit Acceptance
- Donald Kent “Deke” SlaytonAmerican aeronautical engineer, known for being one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts
Donald On The Popularity Chart
The name was popular in the early 80s, but slowly lost its allure and dropped in popularity. Check out the graphs for more details.
Popularity Over Time
As observed in the chart below, Donald was a popular name until the early 90s, when it slowly declined in popularity. In 2021, the name had barely 466 names registered under it.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The ranking of this name has been on a decline for years now and seems to show no improvement. Following its downward trend, the name will take time to make it to the top 100 names.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Donald
Like the sound of the name Donald? Here are some more names that might be of interest to you.
Popular Sibling Names For Donald
Other Popular Names Beginning With D
Names With Similar Meaning As Donald
There are many names that symbolize power and strength. Here are names having similar meanings to Donald.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download Infographic
How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
donald
In Sign Language
donald
In Braille Alphabet
donald
In Morse Code
donald
Name Numerology For Donald
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Donald?
The name Donald means ‘ruler of the world.’
2. What is the origin of the name Donald?
Donald has a Scottish Gaelic origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Donald?
Donald is pronounced as do-nald.
4. What are some famous songs or references to the name Donald?
The name Donald has been mentioned in the famous song ‘Donald, Where’s Your Troosers?’ by the Scottish singer and entertainer, Andy Stewart. Another song reference where the name has been mentioned was sung by John Prine, ‘Donald and Lydia.’
5. What are some middle name suggestions or unique combinations that go well with Donald?
The name Donald means world ruler and these middle name suggestions are names with powerful meanings to match the first name. They are Ansaldo, a rare Italian name that means ‘god power’ or ‘god authority.’Eyalis a Hebrew name that means ‘strength’ or ‘might,’ andKylois a name with no certain meaning but inspired by the legendary character from the Star Wars movies.
6. Is Donald a suitable name for a modern baby?
的意见是否唐纳德f是一个合适的名字or a baby in today’s age is subjective and can depend on individual reasons and cultural context. The popularity of the name Donald has been declining in the US over recent years, but parents can still give the name to their baby boy if they like it.
7. Can Donald be used for both boys and girls?
Over the years, the name Donald has been mostly used as a masculine name. But with time, it is not uncommon for masculine names to be used as feminine names. So parents may choose to use the name Donald for their little girl.
