Donnell
Boy name · #4060 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Donnell? In official American birth records, Donnell has been tracked continuously since 1912, giving it 113 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 26 baby boys were named Donnell, placing it at #4060 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1870, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 69,231 boys born in 2025 was named Donnell.
Babies named Donnell per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 113-year story
Donnell first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1982, when 290 boys were named Donnell — good for #498 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Donnell against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Donnell in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Donnell is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Donnell will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Donnell is most common
State-level data for Donnell is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Donnell
Statistically, parents drawn to Donnell tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Darnell, Kendell, Darell, Terrell, and Marcell.
DarnellKendellDarellTerrellMarcellWilfredoDerikMontrell
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Donnell | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #4050 |
| 2024 | 22 | #4571 |
| 2023 | 23 | #4456 |
| 2022 | 32 | #3533 |
| 2021 | 29 | #3740 |
| 2020 | 46 | #2689 |
| 2019 | 34 | #3347 |
| 2018 | 60 | #2262 |
| 2017 | 51 | #2493 |
| 2016 | 75 | #1936 |
| 2015 | 78 | #1870 |
| 2014 | 89 | #1701 |
| 2013 | 82 | #1763 |
| 2012 | 88 | #1711 |
| 2011 | 75 | #1866 |
| 2010 | 105 | #1536 |
| 2009 | 79 | #1852 |
| 2008 | 125 | #1361 |
| 2007 | 135 | #1287 |
| 2006 | 139 | #1202 |
| 2005 | 110 | #1362 |
| 2004 | 134 | #1163 |
| 2003 | 107 | #1305 |
| 2002 | 123 | #1154 |
| 2001 | 155 | #987 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Donnell?
In official American birth records, the name Donnell first appeared in 1912 (over 113 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 113 years.
Is Donnell a popular boy name?
Donnell ranked #4060 among boys in 2025 with 26 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1870.
When was the name Donnell most popular?
Donnell peaked in 1982, when 290 American boys received the name (ranked #498 that year). Since 1982 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Donnell?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 69,231 newborn American boys was named Donnell. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.