The name Donnel is of Irish origin and it means "dark challenger" or "fierce chief." It is derived from the Irish given name Donall, which is composed of the elements "don," meaning dark or brown, and "all," meaning chief or noble. The name was brought to Scotland by Gaelic-speaking Irish immigrants and became popular there over time.
Donnel has been used as a first name in Ireland and Scotland for centuries. It was borne by several notable historical figures, including Donell of Mar, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 13th century and was the ancestor of the Earls of Mar. The name also appears in Irish mythology, such as in the legend of the warrior hero Cú Chulainn, whose father is named Dónall.
Today, Donnel remains a relatively uncommon given name, but it continues to be used by families with Irish or Scottish heritage who wish to honor their cultural roots. It is also sometimes used as a surname, particularly in Ireland and Scotland. Overall, the name Donnel has a strong connection to Irish and Scottish history and culture, and its meaning of "dark challenger" or "fierce chief" gives it a powerful and commanding tone.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Donnel has seen a varied number of births each year in the United States since 1922. The highest numbers of births for this name occurred between 1958 and 1964, with a peak of 17 births in 1964. This indicates that during this period, Donnel was quite popular as a baby boy's name.
However, the popularity of Donnel seems to have declined over time. From 1970 onwards, there were fewer than 20 births each year for this name, with some years seeing only five or six births. This trend continued into the 21st century, with the highest number of births in recent years being ten in 2013.
Overall, since 1922, there have been a total of 776 babies named Donnel born in the United States. While this name may not be as popular today as it was several decades ago, it still appears to be used occasionally for newborn boys.