Name meaning & stats
Donald
Donald means “world ruler” (Scottish Gaelic origin). 878,519 US babies since 1940, peak 1954. Notable Donalds are 2.3× over-represented as professors.
What it means
“world ruler”
Scottish GaelicWell documented
In US birth records
Peak year: 1954
878,519 US babies were named Donald between 1940 and 2025.
Where Donalds end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Professor | 2.3× | High · 105 people |
| Politician | 1.3× | High · 94 people |
| Writer | 1.1× | High · 46 people |
| Basketball player | 0.8× | High · 41 people |
Among notable men who are professors, Donalds show up 2.3× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Donald has a surprise career: 2.1×
Spelling family
Donald is the main spelling
- Donald 100%
- Donold <1%
- Donnald <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1954)