The Decreasing Popularity In The United States of The Personal Name "Donald"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents excerpts from several online articles about the decreasing popularity in the United States of the personal name "Donald". 

The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/10/mickey-mouse-built-house-verses-that.html for a related pancocojams post entitled "Mickey Mouse Built A House" Rhymes That Aren't A Part Of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" Rhymes (reprint & updates)"

That post includes information that the Disney animated cartoon and comic-book character "Donald Duck" first appeared in "Mickey Mouse" films in 1934.  As indicated in Source #1 below, 1934 was the year that the name "Donald" achieved its highest ranking in the top 1000 names in the United States.

It seems likely to me that the main reason for the uptick in people giving the name "Donald" to their newborn sons in 1934 was people's increased familiarity with that name because of the  Disney character "Donald Duck". 

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ARTICLE EXCERPTS ABOUT THIS SUBJECT
These sources are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.

SOURCE #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald
"Donald is a Scottish masculine given name. It is derived from the Gaelic name Dòmhnall.[1] This comes from the Proto-Celtic *Dumno-ualos ("world-ruler" or "world-wielder").[2][3][4] The final -d in Donald is partly derived from a misinterpretation of the Gaelic pronunciation by English speakers. A short form of Donald is Don, and pet forms of Donald include Donnie and Donny. The feminine given name Donella is derived from Donald.[1]

[...]

Although the feminine given name Donna is sometimes used as a feminine form of Donald, the names are not etymologically related.[1]"...
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"The name Donna is an Italian feminine given name meaning "lady" or "woman," originating from the classical Latin word domina, which means "lady of the house" or "mistress" ". [from AI Overview]

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SOURCE #2
From https://www.washingtonsun.com/donald-trump/donald-baby-name-popularity
"Naming Your Kid ‘Donald’ Has Never Been So Unpopular"

“Donald” is the nation’s 690th most popular baby name amid the president’s return to the White House.

By Dave Levinthal, June 23, 2026

"President Donald Trump wants his name on most anything: money, buildings, airports, warships, even the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.

But one item is increasingly out of reach: newborns.

In 2025, the baby name “Donald” hit its lowest point of popularity in U.S. history, according to data maintained by the Social Security Administration and reviewed by NOTUS.

The federal agency received fewer than 400 Social Security card applications for baby Donalds last year, making “Donald” the nation’s 690th most popular baby name amid Trump’s return to the White House for a second term

“Donald” peaked in popularity in 1934, when more than 30,400 American babies received the name, and remained within the top 100 through 1990.

But even as Trump’s notoriety in business, entertainment and politics grew, the baby name “Donald” continued to decline, Social Security Administration data indicates.

In 2004, when the first season of Trump’s hit television show “The Apprentice” premiered, “Donald” had fallen to No. 263. In 2013, the year World Wrestling Entertainment inducted Trump into its Hall of Fame, “Donald” sat at No. 415.

And in 2016, when Trump won his first presidential term, “Donald” sank to No. 489.

“Donald” did tick up a few notches in 2017, Trump’s first year in office, but continued its nearly unabated free fall for the next eight years, losing more than 200 popularity places by 2025."...
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With regard to name rankings, #1 is the top (most popular) name. The bigger the number, the less popular the name is.

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SOURCE #3
From https://www.facebook.com/christinaloreynews/posts/shockingly-no-one-wants-to-name-their-baby-donald-anymore-the-name-has-officiall/1529500798997160/ 
by Christina Lorey, October 3 2026

 "Donald baby name hits lowest point in US history

 SHOCKINGLY, no one wants to name their baby “Donald” anymore! The name has officially hit its lowest point in U.S. history 📉

According to data from the Social Security Administration, less than 400 newborns were given the name over the last year.

That drops Donald all the way down to 690th on the nation’s list of popular baby names.

To put that into perspective, the name peaked back in 1934 when more than 30,000 babies were named Donald. It comfortably held a spot in the top 100 for over five decades. But over the last several years, the name has seen an unprecedented, steady free-fall.

Even in Florida—a major political stronghold for the President—parents only minted 21 baby Donalds last year. The name is now tied in popularity with historical anomalies like "Abner" and "Enoch," and it ranks entirely behind names like "Maximus" and "Keanu."

Naming experts suggest that even die-hard supporters are dodging the name simply because parents of all political stripes prefer to avoid attaching massive, polarizing political discourse to a newborn.

Meanwhile, the First Lady’s name isn't seeing a boost either. "Melania" briefly broke into the top 1,000 back in 2017, but it hasn’t managed to crack the charts since.

It turns out that attaching a name to one of the most polarizing figures in modern history is a surefire way to clear out the maternity wards 🤪

“Adolf” isn’t very popular either…"

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