Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1974

Donyell

Gender Unisex · 44% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Donyell
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1974
51 babies
All-time total
907
#7,818 all-time among boys
First recorded
1961
in Social Security records

Donyell popularity over time

907 babies have been named Donyell since 1961, 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
0.010.010.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
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 – – – – – –
1920s – – – – – –
1930s – – – – – –
1940s – – – – – –
1950s – – – – – –
1960s 56 5 61 6 – #4,567
1970s 158 198 356 36 +484% #1,552
1980s 93 105 198 20 -44% #2,174
1990s 77 115 192 19 -3% #2,643
2000s 14 76 90 9 -53% #4,953
2010s – 10 10 1 -89% #12,780
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Donyell

Donyell 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 1961, 907 American babies have been named Donyell, about 56% boys and 44% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1974, when 51 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 Donyell stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Donyell?

The median living Donyell is about 44 years old; half are between 31 and 50. An estimated 900 people named Donyell are alive in the United States today.

median 44 020406080100

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

Donyell 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 – – 5 #12,795
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – 5 #12,780
2009 – – – –
2008 – – 9 #8,484
2007 6 #16,062 7 #10,050
2006 – – 11 #7,053
2005 – – 10 #7,261
2004 – – – –
2003 – – 10 #6,858
2002 – – – –
2001 – – 15 #4,953
2000 8 #11,021 14 #5,109
1995 10 #8,264 21 #3,221
1990 7 #10,528 7 #6,616
1985 10 #6,579 6 #5,997
1980 16 #4,571 24 #2,174
1975 21 #3,308 22 #2,081
1970 8 #5,957 9 #3,352
1965 – – – –
1960 – – – –
1955 – – – –
1950 – – – –
1945 – – – –
1940 – – – –
1935 – – – –
1930 – – – –
1925 – – – –
1920 – – – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Donyell

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Donyell Malen Donyell Malen Dutch footballer (born 1999) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Donyell?

The median living Donyell is about 44 years old. Half of all living Donyells are between 31 and 50 years old.

How many people named Donyell are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Donyell are alive in the United States, based on 907 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Donyell in 2025?

Donyell 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 Donyell?

907 babies have been named Donyell in the United States since 1961, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Donyell most popular?

Donyell peaked in 1974, when 51 newborns received the name.

Is Donyell a boy or girl name?

Donyell is used for both: about 44% of babies named Donyell have been girls and 56% boys.

Is the name Donyell rising or falling?

Donyell has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Donyell?

Well-known people named Donyell include Donyell Malen (soccer player).

Names like Donyell

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

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