Donn
Donn was not among the names given to 5 or more boys in 2025. Its best year was 1949, when it ranked 366th with 341 babies. More babies were named Donn in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Don) short form of Donald, 'world ruler' · English, Scottish Gaelic
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedboys
- Babies in 2025
- 0boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1949341 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,615babies recorded
What does the name Donn mean?
Donn is a spelling of Don, pronounced the same way, so it shares Don's meaning and origin.
Don is a short form of Donald, and sometimes of Donovan or Gordon, as Wiktionary notes. Donald is the anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Domhnall; DMNES derives the Celtic name from *dumno- 'world' and *val- 'rule', so 'world ruler'. Don was common in the US in the 1930s to 1950s. Spanish and Italian don, a title of respect, is unrelated.
*dumno- (Proto-Celtic, “world”)*val- (Proto-Celtic, “rule”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Donald, Donnie, Donny, Donovan.
See also: Scottish names, names that mean king or queen.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Don', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Donald', DMNES (Durham University)
Donn popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 62 since 1951.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2000 | #4,444 | 17 |
| 1990 | #3,830 | 15 |
| 1980 | #1,870 | 30 |
| 1970 | #878 | 85 |
| 1960 | #657 | 141 |
| 1950 | #424 | 250 |
| 1940 | #655 | 85 |
| 1930 | #601 | 103 |
| 1920 | #1,429 | 27 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Donn, counting every spelling?
Donn is a spelling of Don, a name family that had 89 boys in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 89 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don | 89 | #1,795 | 492 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Donn?
About 3,400 people born in the US named Donn are alive today, with a median age of 68; half are between 58 and 75. That makes Donn a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Donn by state
How common Donn was among boys born in each state in 1947–1951, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Nebraska (5.3×), South Dakota (4.3×), Wisconsin (3.0×), Minnesota (2.5×), Washington (2.3×). In 24 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Donn: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Donn, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Donn
What does Donn mean?
Donn is a spelling of Don, which means “short form of Donald, 'world ruler'” (English, Scottish Gaelic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Donn?
Donn was not among the names given to 5 or more boys in 2025. Its best year was 1949, when it ranked 366th with 341 babies. More babies were named Donn in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Donn a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Donn in the US.
Where was Donn most popular?
In 1947–1951, Donn was most common in Nebraska (0.64 per 1,000 boys), followed by South Dakota and Wisconsin.