Holding steady.
Popularity of Donne since 1926
Babies named Donne per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1957, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Donne's real moment was 1967.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 | 12 |
| 1940s | 22 | 10 |
| 1950s | 33 | 19 |
| 1960s | 46 | 34 |
| 1970s | 10 | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Donne is a rare and distinctive name that has never entered the U.S. top 1000, though it has been recorded as early as 1926. Its peak year came in 1967, when a handful of parents chose this surname-turned-first-name, perhaps inspired by the poet John Donne. In 2025, fewer than 5 newborns received the name. The trajectory has remained stable at very low usage over the decades, reflecting its status as an uncommon but enduring choice. While no single state shows significant concentration, Donne carries a quiet, literary resonance that appeals to those seeking a name outside the mainstream.
Donne is primarily an English surname that has been used as a given name, famously associated with the poet John Donne. The surname may derive from the Old English personal name 'Dunn', meaning 'dark' or 'brown', or from a place name. Its use as a first name has been rare but consistent since the 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Don
Sibling names for Donne
Names that share Donne's style, for a brother or sister.
