Donny
A diminutive of the male given names Don, Donald, Donovan, and Adonis.
Every Donny since 1927 — 12,927 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Donny
Donny is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,872 in 2025 with 28 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1927, 12,927 American babies have been named Donny. Its peak came in 1977, when 432 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 Donny stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Donny 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 | — | — | 28 | #3,872 |
| 2024 | — | — | 30 | #3,718 |
| 2023 | — | — | 27 | #4,036 |
| 2022 | — | — | 34 | #3,427 |
| 2021 | — | — | 28 | #3,838 |
| 2020 | — | — | 28 | #3,747 |
| 2019 | — | — | 30 | #3,655 |
| 2018 | — | — | 26 | #4,021 |
| 2017 | — | — | 28 | #3,801 |
| 2016 | — | — | 36 | #3,176 |
| 2015 | — | — | 39 | #2,984 |
| 2014 | — | — | 42 | #2,820 |
| 2013 | — | — | 42 | #2,779 |
| 2012 | — | — | 39 | #2,970 |
| 2011 | — | — | 35 | #3,185 |
| 2010 | — | — | 35 | #3,191 |
| 2009 | — | — | 29 | #3,658 |
| 2008 | — | — | 59 | #2,244 |
| 2007 | — | — | 61 | #2,194 |
| 2006 | — | — | 58 | #2,209 |
| 2005 | — | — | 49 | #2,378 |
| 2004 | — | — | 56 | #2,107 |
| 2003 | — | — | 49 | #2,214 |
| 2002 | — | — | 69 | #1,695 |
| 2001 | — | — | 72 | #1,634 |
| 2000 | — | — | 74 | #1,589 |
| 1995 | — | — | 59 | #1,578 |
| 1990 | — | — | 115 | #982 |
| 1985 | — | — | 113 | #845 |
| 1980 | — | — | 257 | #536 |
| 1975 | — | — | 252 | #503 |
| 1970 | — | — | 150 | #668 |
| 1965 | — | — | 181 | #569 |
| 1960 | — | — | 358 | #420 |
| 1955 | — | — | 279 | #446 |
| 1950 | — | — | 211 | #454 |
| 1945 | — | — | 112 | #572 |
| 1940 | — | — | 74 | #703 |
| 1935 | — | — | 37 | #1,062 |
| 1930 | — | — | 16 | #1,910 |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Donny
- Donny Hathaway Singer · 1945–1979
- Donny Osmond Actor · b. 1957
- Donny van de Beek Soccer player · b. 1997
- Donny Montell Singer · b. 1987
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Donny mean?
A diminutive of the male given names Don, Donald, Donovan, and Adonis.
How popular is the name Donny in 2025?
Donny ranked #3,872 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 28 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Donny?
12,927 babies have been named Donny in the United States since 1927, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Donny most popular?
Donny peaked in 1977, when 432 newborns received the name.
Is Donny a boy or girl name?
Donny is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Donny rising or falling?
Donny is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Donny?
Well-known people named Donny include Donny Hathaway (singer), Donny Osmond (actor), Donny van de Beek (soccer player).