Declining since 1990, #7,679 for boys today.
Popularity of Donta since 1964
Babies named Donta per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1991, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Donta's real moment was 1978.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 57 |
| 1970s | 752 |
| 1980s | 1,086 |
| 1990s | 995 |
| 2000s | 572 |
| 2010s | 337 |
| 2020s | 100 |
Meaning & origin
Donta first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1964, a time when creative naming patterns were flourishing in African American communities. Its peak of popularity came in 1978, when it was most frequently chosen for newborn boys. Since 1990, however, the name has been on a steady decline in usage. In 2025, it ranked 7,679th, with only about 1 in every 170,808 baby boys receiving the name. Donta's trajectory reflects a broader trend away from once-fashionable invented names. The name is often thought of as a variant of Donte or Dante, connecting it to Italian roots meaning 'enduring'. While Donta has never ranked among the top state-level names, its use has been concentrated in communities that value distinctive, rhythmic names.
Donta is a modern given name, primarily used in African American communities. It likely originated as a variant of Dante or Donte. Dante is an Italian name derived from Durante, meaning 'enduring' or 'steadfast'. Donta emerged in the mid-20th century and gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Don, Tay
Sibling names for Donta
Names that share Donta's style, for a brother or sister.
