Declining since 1985, #4,050 for boys today.
Popularity of Donnell since 1912
Babies named Donnell per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1982, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Donnell's real moment was 1975.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 102 |
| 1920s | 10 | 244 |
| 1930s | 52 | 360 |
| 1940s | 99 | 607 |
| 1950s | 184 | 1,736 |
| 1960s | 295 | 2,326 |
| 1970s | 248 | 2,502 |
| 1980s | 116 | 2,429 |
| 1990s | 17 | 1,802 |
| 2000s | 5 | 1,256 |
| 2010s | 0 | 737 |
| 2020s | 0 | 178 |
Meaning & origin
Donnell has seen a steady decline in use since its peak in 1975, when it ranked highest in popularity. As of 2025, it ranks 4050th with about 1 in 65,695 newborn boys receiving the name, reflecting its fall from mid-century favor. While it was most common in the 1970s, its trajectory has been downward since the mid-1980s. Donnell is an Anglicized form tied to the prominent Irish surname O'Donnell, and despite its decreasing usage, it retains a strong cultural link to Irish heritage.
Donnell is often considered an Anglicized version of the Irish surname O'Donnell, which derives from the Gaelic Domhnall, composed of 'domhan' meaning 'world' and 'all' meaning 'mighty', thus 'world mighty'. The name has been used as a given name in the United States since at least the early 20th century, with a peak in popularity during the 1970s.
Where Donnell is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Don, Donnie
Sibling names for Donnell
Names that share Donnell's style, for a brother or sister.
