Donnel: 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	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	29	29	3	–	#3,151
1930s	–	54	54	5	+86%	#2,226
1940s	–	53	53	5	-2%	#2,439
1950s	–	82	82	8	+55%	#2,118
1960s	32	118	150	15	+83%	#1,911
1970s	10	130	140	14	-7%	#2,214
1980s	5	127	132	13	-6%	#2,465
1990s	–	98	98	10	-26%	#4,392
2000s	–	46	46	5	-53%	#7,852
2010s	–	39	39	4	-15%	#7,673
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

#3,151

1930s

–

+86%

#2,226

1940s

–

-2%

#2,439

1950s

–

+55%

#2,118

1960s

118

150

+83%

#1,911

1970s

130

140

-7%

#2,214

1980s

127

132

-6%

#2,465

1990s

–

-26%

#4,392

2000s

–

-53%

#7,852

2010s

–

-15%

#7,673

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Donnel

Donnel 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 1922, 823 American babies have been named Donnel, about 94% boys and 6% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1968, when 25 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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

How old are people named Donnel?

The median living Donnel is about 47 years old; half are between 34 and 60. An estimated 700 people named Donnel 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.

Donnel 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	–	–	6	#11,123
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	7	#9,917
2013	–	–	10	#7,673
2012	–	–	6	#11,168
2011	–	–	5	#12,792
2010	–	–	5	#12,773
2009	–	–	8	#9,208
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	7	#10,043
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	5	#11,924
2004	–	–	6	#10,322
2003	–	–	5	#11,360
2002	–	–	8	#7,852
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	7	#8,446
1995	–	–	8	#6,554
1990	–	–	12	#4,477
1985	–	–	9	#4,424
1980	5	#10,812	20	#2,465
1975	–	–	14	#2,792
1970	–	–	8	#3,597
1965	–	–	10	#2,661
1960	9	#4,538	11	#2,575
1955	–	–	10	#2,627
1950	–	–	8	#2,831
1945	–	–	9	#2,439
1940	–	–	6	#3,218
1935	–	–	7	#3,033
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	5	#4,372
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Donnel?

The median living Donnel is about 47 years old. Half of all living Donnels are between 34 and 60 years old.

How many people named Donnel are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Donnel are alive in the United States, based on 823 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Donnel in 2025?

Donnel 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 Donnel?

823 babies have been named Donnel in the United States since 1922, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Donnel most popular?

Donnel peaked in 1968, when 25 newborns received the name.

Is Donnel a boy or girl name?

Donnel is used for both: about 6% of babies named Donnel have been girls and 94% boys.

Is the name Donnel rising or falling?

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

Donnel

Donnel popularity over time

The story of Donnel

How old are people named Donnel?

Donnel year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Donnel