Donal
Say it: DOH-nal
BoyIrishMeans world ruler5 letters2 syllables
#509
in Ireland (2025)
#336 with spellings combined
11
babies in 2025
#38
best rank (1965)
5,552
babies since 1964
Down 115
10-year rank change
Donal through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #336 |
| 2024 | 21 | #216 |
| 2023 | 17 | #248 |
| 2022 | 14 | #297 |
| 2021 | 14 | #300 |
| 2020 | 18 | #253 |
| 2019 | 27 | #198 |
| 2018 | 28 | #199 |
| 2017 | 17 | #272 |
| 2016 | 30 | #190 |
| 2015 | 25 | #221 |
| 2014 | 30 | #193 |
| 2013 | 29 | #202 |
| 2012 | 26 | #221 |
| 2011 | 36 | #183 |
| 2010 | 35 | #183 |
| 2009 | 40 | #156 |
| 2008 | 44 | #152 |
| 2007 | 26 | #190 |
| 2006 | 37 | #144 |
| 2005 | 46 | #119 |
| 2004 | 30 | #146 |
| 2003 | 31 | #136 |
| 2002 | 33 | #134 |
| 2001 | 37 | #120 |
| 2000 | 41 | #113 |
| 1999 | 52 | #92 |
| 1998 | 48 | #89 |
| 1997 | 73 | #83 |
| 1996 | 60 | #96 |
| 1995 | 73 | #80 |
| 1994 | 79 | #77 |
| 1993 | 68 | #88 |
| 1992 | 88 | #75 |
| 1991 | 96 | #67 |
| 1990 | 109 | #65 |
| 1989 | 98 | #68 |
| 1988 | 115 | #65 |
| 1987 | 113 | #66 |
| 1986 | 120 | #62 |
| 1985 | 127 | #58 |
| 1984 | 150 | #56 |
| 1983 | 141 | #61 |
| 1982 | 178 | #52 |
| 1981 | 161 | #60 |
| 1980 | 186 | #57 |
| 1979 | 144 | #67 |
| 1978 | 152 | #61 |
| 1977 | 178 | #55 |
| 1976 | 178 | #55 |
| 1975 | 164 | #56 |
| 1974 | 214 | #48 |
| 1973 | 199 | #53 |
| 1972 | 159 | #54 |
| 1971 | 160 | #54 |
| 1970 | 165 | #44 |
| 1969 | 160 | #44 |
| 1968 | 156 | #42 |
| 1967 | 155 | #43 |
| 1966 | 157 | #44 |
| 1965 | 189 | #38 |
| 1964 | 144 | #45 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Donal mean?
World ruler
Irish, a simpler spelling of Domhnall, from Proto-Celtic dumno-ualos (world ruler).
Say it right
DOHnal
The story of Donal
Donal is the usual modern spelling of the old Irish name Domhnall, also written Dónall and Dónal. It goes back to a Proto-Celtic name, dumno-ualos, built from words for world and ruler, so it is usually explained as “world ruler”. The Scottish Gaelic form Dòmhnall gave English the name Donald.
Well-known bearers include the musician Dónal Lunny and the Cork hurler Dónal Óg Cusack.
Donal was a steady Irish favourite for decades. It reached number 38 in 1965, and its biggest year was 1974, with 214 boys. It has been rare in recent years: 11 boys were given it in 2025 once spellings are combined. The CSO lists Donal (6 babies) and Dónal (5) separately, so on its own Donal was number 509 in 2025. In Northern Ireland its best rank was number 117 in 1998.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Domhnall (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Donald
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Donal | 6 | 5,491 |
| Dónal | 5 | 61 |
In Northern Ireland
#314 in 2025 with 5 babies. Best rank #117 (1998); 272 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.