Don
Don is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
World ruler or proud chief.
Origin and history
Don is a short form of Donald, originating from the Gaelic name Domhnall, which means ruler of the world. It was widely popular in the mid-20th century in the United States and remains a familiar classic name today.
Popularity in the United States
167,632 babies in the United States have been named Don since 1880. It ranks #206 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1362.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.5 %)
- TX (9.6 %)
- OH (6.2 %)
- IL (5.6 %)
- MI (4.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 454 |
| 1890-1900 | 620 |
| 1900-1910 | 817 |
| 1910-1920 | 5,683 |
| 1920-1930 | 16,941 |
| 1930-1940 | 35,980 |
| 1940-1950 | 36,255 |
| 1950-1960 | 29,452 |
| 1960-1970 | 22,123 |
| 1970-1980 | 8,496 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,989 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,638 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,530 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,072 |
| 2020-2029 | 582 |
Famous people named Don
- Don Shula: Football Coach, Athlete
- Don Henley: Musician, Singer
- Don Rickles: Comedian, Actor
Fun facts
- While originally used as a nickname for Donald, Don became popular as an independent registered given name in the United States.
- The root name Donald combines the Celtic elements 'duno' (fortress) and 'val' (rule).