Donnell
Donnell is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
World ruler or mighty ruler.
Origin and history
Donnell is a masculine given name derived from the Gaelic name Dónall, which ultimately stems from the ancient Celtic elements for world and mighty. It saw steady popularity in the United States throughout the middle and late twentieth century. Today it remains an established classic choice with moderate, enduring usage.
Popularity in the United States
14,279 babies in the United States have been named Donnell since 1880. It ranks #1001 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1749.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.5 %)
- IL (8.7 %)
- CA (8 %)
- MD (8 %)
- NC (7.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 102 |
| 1920-1930 | 244 |
| 1930-1940 | 360 |
| 1940-1950 | 607 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,736 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,326 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,502 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,429 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,802 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,256 |
| 2010-2019 | 737 |
| 2020-2029 | 178 |
Famous people named Donnell
- Donnell Rawlings: Comedian, Actor
- Donnell Harvey: Basketball Player
Nicknames
Don, Donnie
Fun facts
- The name is closely related to the Irish Donald and Dónall, stemming from ancient Celtic root words meaning world and power.
- Donnell experienced its highest popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s.