Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1959

Donell

Gender Unisex · 11% girls Rank 2025 #6,554
Rank 2025
#6,554
among boys · ↑2,669 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
13
named Donell
How common
1 in 131,390
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1959
110 babies
All-time total
5,418
#1,820 all-time among boys
First recorded
1915
in Social Security records

Donell popularity over time

5,418 babies have been named Donell since 1915, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

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 – 21 21 2 – #2,882
1920s – 107 107 11 +410% #1,852
1930s 5 190 195 20 +82% #1,195
1940s 50 275 325 33 +67% #974
1950s 127 752 879 88 +170% #764
1960s 180 724 904 90 +3% #815
1970s 147 812 959 96 +6% #853
1980s 76 715 791 79 -18% #1,006
1990s 6 515 521 52 -34% #1,289
2000s – 442 442 44 -15% #1,686
2010s – 209 209 21 -53% #3,089
2020s (to 2025) – 65 65 11 -48% #6,387

The story of Donell

Donell is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,554 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1915, 5,418 American babies have been named Donell, about 89% boys and 11% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1959, when 110 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

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 Donell stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Donell?

The median living Donell is about 48 years old; half are between 34 and 62. An estimated 4,500 people named Donell are alive in the United States today.

median 48 020406080100

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

Donell 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 – – 13 #6,554
2024 – – 8 #9,223
2023 – – 12 #7,003
2022 – – 8 #9,208
2021 – – 11 #7,223
2020 – – 13 #6,387
2019 – – 15 #5,895
2018 – – 17 #5,379
2017 – – 15 #5,869
2016 – – 9 #8,324
2015 – – 18 #5,114
2014 – – 27 #3,820
2013 – – 21 #4,505
2012 – – 26 #3,928
2011 – – 24 #4,134
2010 – – 37 #3,089
2009 – – 25 #4,068
2008 – – 39 #3,019
2007 – – 44 #2,732
2006 – – 48 #2,520
2005 – – 51 #2,305
2004 – – 40 #2,656
2003 – – 33 #2,945
2002 – – 47 #2,228
2001 – – 47 #2,188
2000 – – 68 #1,686
1995 – – 39 #2,110
1990 6 #11,807 74 #1,289
1985 – – 81 #1,014
1980 12 #5,618 81 #1,006
1975 15 #4,203 80 #919
1970 16 #3,756 64 #1,020
1965 16 #3,173 78 #832
1960 16 #3,120 88 #815
1955 17 #2,751 77 #839
1950 8 #4,044 47 #1,027
1945 7 #3,756 23 #1,389
1940 5 #4,510 30 #1,234
1935 – – 19 #1,604
1930 – – 14 #2,103
1925 – – 9 #2,983
1920 – – 8 #3,283
1915 – – 8 #2,882
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Donell?

The median living Donell is about 48 years old. Half of all living Donells are between 34 and 62 years old.

How many people named Donell are alive today?

An estimated 4,500 people named Donell are alive in the United States, based on 5,418 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Donell in 2025?

Donell ranked #6,554 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Donell?

5,418 babies have been named Donell in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Donell most popular?

Donell peaked in 1959, when 110 newborns received the name.

Is Donell a boy or girl name?

Donell is used for both: about 11% of babies named Donell have been girls and 89% boys.

Is the name Donell rising or falling?

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

Names like Donell

Names that sound and feel close to Donell: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Donell with similar names → More names starting with D →