Donald is a name of Scottish origin that has been used for centuries. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Dòmhnall," which is composed of two elements: "dò" meaning "world" and "mall" meaning "rule." Therefore, Donald means "ruler of the world."
The name Donald first appeared in Scotland during the Middle Ages and was popularized by several Scottish kings. The most notable one is Donald II, who ruled from 890 to 899 AD. He was known for his courage and military prowess, which contributed to the popularity of the name among Scottish families.
Over time, the name Donald spread beyond Scotland's borders and became common in other English-speaking countries like England, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Today, it is recognized as a global name with strong Scottish roots.
Historically, Donald has been borne by many notable figures throughout history. Some famous bearers of this name include Scottish poet Donald Meek (1782-1846), American author Donald Barthelme (1931-1989), and Canadian singer-songwriter Donald "Donal" Henman (born 1950). These individuals have contributed to the enduring popularity of the name Donald.
In terms of its use today, Donald remains a popular choice for parents, particularly in English-speaking countries. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it ranked #386 in popularity for boys' names in 2019. While it may not be as trendy as some other names, its classic sound and strong historical roots continue to make it an attractive option for many families.
In summary, Donald is a name of Scottish origin that means "ruler of the world." It has been used for centuries and was popularized by several Scottish kings. Today, it remains a popular choice for parents around the world, with notable bearers including poets, authors, and musicians. Despite its classic sound, Donald continues to be recognized as a strong and enduring name with deep historical roots.
Based on the statistics provided, we can see that the name Donald has had varying popularity over the years in the United States.
In the early years (1917-1936), the number of births with the name Donald fluctuated between 5 and 26. However, it is important to note that these numbers are quite low compared to recent years, which suggests that Donald was not a very popular name during this time period.
The peak popularity for the name Donald occurred in the mid-1940s to early 1950s, with the highest number of births occurring in 1944 (20 births). This trend continued into the late 1950s and early 1960s, with the number of births ranging between 12 and 25 each year.
However, starting from the mid-1960s, there was a significant decrease in the popularity of the name Donald. Between 1966 and 1980, the number of births with this name ranged between 5 and 10 each year, which is considerably lower than the peak years.
Overall, based on these statistics, we can conclude that while the name Donald has had periods of popularity throughout the decades, it has not been consistently popular over time. The total number of births with the name Donald in the United States since 1917 is 828.