Donald – Name Meaning
The name Donald is a masculine given name derived from the Gaelic name Domhnall. It is composed of two elements: “domn”, meaning “world” or “world ruler”, and “val”, meaning “rule” or “might”. The name Donald is thus interpreted to mean “ruler of the world”.
Donald has been used as a given name in Scotland since at least the 12th century. It was popularized by the legendary Scottish king Donald III (1033-1099), who was known as Donald of the Isles. The popularity of the name spread throughout Britain and eventually to other parts of the English-speaking world.
Donald is a popular name in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In the United States it was among the top 10 most popular names for boys born between 1940 and 1969.
Variations of Donald
There are several variations of the name Donald that are used in different countries. These include Donal (Irish), Donnal (Scottish), Donall (Irish), Donel (Welsh) and Donnell (English).
Famous People Named Donald
There have been many famous people named Donald throughout history. These include U.S. President Donald Trump; actor Donald Sutherland; singer/songwriter Donald Fagen; author/illustrator Dr. Seuss (born Theodor Geisel); and cartoon character Donald Duck.
Donald is also a popular name for fictional characters in books, movies and television shows. Examples include Don Draper from Mad Men; Don Corleone from The Godfather; and Don Lothario from The Sims video game series.
