Donell Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Donell has its origins in the Irish language, derived from the Gaelic 'Domhnall', meaning 'world ruler'. It has evolved through historical forms such as Domhnall and Donnall before becoming Donell in modern English. The name carries traits of leadership and strength, with no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 20th century and is associated with notable individuals in the entertainment industry.
The name Donell is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Donell has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Donell' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3261st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1631st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 909th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 913th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1352nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2625th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5989th out of 23106 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6436th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3329th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3914th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11800th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Donell' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Donell"
Pronunciation
/dəˈnɛl/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Donell is derived from the Gaelic name 'Domhnall', meaning 'world ruler' or 'ruler of the world'.
Meaning
world ruler
Language Evolution
Domhnall (Old Irish), Donnall (Middle Irish), Donell (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in Irish and Scottish communities, often used as a given name and surname.
Variants & Derivatives
Donnell, Donal, Donald
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary times, Donell is perceived as a distinctive and culturally rich name, often associated with strength and leadership.
Famous People
Donell Jones (American singer), Donell Rawlings (American comedian and actor)
Explore More Donell Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Donell"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Donell"
"Donell" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3261st of 7545 | 103 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1631st of 6773 | 341 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 909th of 7552 | 1,267 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 913th of 10718 | 1,251 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1352nd of 16616 | 1,018 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2625th of 24088 | 660 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 5989th of 23106 | 174 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6436th of 9204 | 24 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3329th of 12526 | 243 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3914th of 19264 | 254 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 11800th of 27321 | 70 |
Regional Popularity of "Donell" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
66.13% 1556th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
39.07% 870th/2227 |
54.24% 1318th/2430 |
24.89% 710th/2853 |
39.64% 1100th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
26.01% 764th/2937 |
24.72% 861st/3483 |
26.72% 940th/3518 |
31.80% 1286th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
28.85% 1063rd/3685 |
25.65% 1148th/4475 |
30.48% 1583rd/5194 |
30.54% 1929th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
43.61% 1998th/4582 |
56.41% 2913th/5164 |
46.07% 3369th/7313 |
59.31% 4426th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
75.38% 4731st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Donell" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - |
82.56% 2291st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - |
100.00% 4044th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Donell"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Donell" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.