Donel: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	18	18	2	–	#3,495
1920s	–	52	52	5	+189%	#2,753
1930s	–	103	103	10	+98%	#1,848
1940s	–	92	92	9	-11%	#1,908
1950s	5	96	101	10	+10%	#2,139
1960s	7	88	95	10	-6%	#1,985
1970s	18	91	109	11	+15%	#2,146
1980s	–	62	62	6	-43%	#4,612
1990s	–	57	57	6	-8%	#5,230
2000s	–	16	16	2	-72%	#7,635
2010s	–	16	16	2	0%	#11,087
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#3,495

1920s

–

+189%

#2,753

1930s

–

103

+98%

#1,848

1940s

–

-11%

#1,908

1950s

101

+10%

#2,139

1960s

-6%

#1,985

1970s

109

+15%

#2,146

1980s

–

-43%

#4,612

1990s

–

-8%

#5,230

2000s

–

-72%

#7,635

2010s

–

#11,087

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Donel

Donel is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1916, 721 American babies have been named Donel. Its peak came in 1970, when 23 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Donel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Donel?

The median living Donel is about 55 years old; half are between 40 and 69. An estimated 500 people named Donel are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Donel year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	6	#11,087
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	5	#12,790
2010	–	–	5	#12,771
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	8	#9,121
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	8	#7,635
1995	–	–	11	#5,230
1990	–	–	8	#5,994
1985	–	–	7	#5,303
1980	–	–	8	#4,612
1975	–	–	8	#4,049
1970	5	#8,313	18	#2,146
1965	–	–	7	#3,327
1960	–	–	7	#3,427
1955	–	–	14	#2,163
1950	–	–	9	#2,626
1945	–	–	10	#2,287
1940	–	–	14	#1,922
1935	–	–	9	#2,581
1930	–	–	14	#2,102
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	6	#3,938
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Donel, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Donel?

The median living Donel is about 55 years old. Half of all living Donels are between 40 and 69 years old.

How many people named Donel are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Donel are alive in the United States, based on 721 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Donel in 2025?

Donel did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Donel?

721 babies have been named Donel in the United States since 1916, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Donel most popular?

Donel peaked in 1970, when 23 newborns received the name.

Is Donel a boy or girl name?

Donel is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 96% of babies with the name.

Is the name Donel rising or falling?

Donel is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Donel

Donel popularity over time

The story of Donel

How old are people named Donel?

Donel year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Donel