Don
Every Don since 1880 — 168,839 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Don
Don is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,795 in 2025 with 89 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 168,839 American babies have been named Don. Its peak came in 1946, when 4,130 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Don stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Don year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 89 | #1,795 |
| 2024 | — | — | 92 | #1,780 |
| 2023 | — | — | 94 | #1,750 |
| 2022 | — | — | 115 | #1,552 |
| 2021 | — | — | 102 | #1,638 |
| 2020 | — | — | 90 | #1,722 |
| 2019 | — | — | 88 | #1,768 |
| 2018 | — | — | 115 | #1,500 |
| 2017 | — | — | 90 | #1,725 |
| 2016 | — | — | 105 | #1,566 |
| 2015 | — | — | 117 | #1,445 |
| 2014 | — | — | 112 | #1,457 |
| 2013 | — | — | 125 | #1,354 |
| 2012 | — | — | 96 | #1,619 |
| 2011 | — | — | 113 | #1,452 |
| 2010 | — | — | 111 | #1,473 |
| 2009 | — | — | 136 | #1,293 |
| 2008 | — | — | 133 | #1,306 |
| 2007 | — | — | 127 | #1,334 |
| 2006 | — | — | 170 | #1,055 |
| 2005 | — | — | 138 | #1,156 |
| 2004 | — | — | 140 | #1,128 |
| 2003 | — | — | 155 | #1,019 |
| 2002 | — | — | 155 | #1,003 |
| 2001 | — | — | 183 | #873 |
| 2000 | — | — | 193 | #830 |
| 1995 | — | — | 299 | #597 |
| 1990 | — | — | 332 | #554 |
| 1985 | 6 | #9,637 | 473 | #381 |
| 1980 | 8 | #7,597 | 598 | #321 |
| 1975 | 7 | #7,368 | 766 | #258 |
| 1970 | 15 | #3,914 | 1,279 | #203 |
| 1965 | 14 | #3,444 | 1,907 | #157 |
| 1960 | 19 | #2,837 | 3,454 | #115 |
| 1955 | 11 | #3,632 | 2,649 | #125 |
| 1950 | 16 | #2,579 | 2,712 | #107 |
| 1945 | 15 | #2,262 | 3,482 | #73 |
| 1940 | 18 | #1,909 | 3,547 | #62 |
| 1935 | 21 | #1,680 | 3,917 | #51 |
| 1930 | 34 | #1,294 | 2,922 | #68 |
| 1925 | 18 | #2,133 | 1,653 | #106 |
| 1920 | 13 | #2,622 | 1,019 | #148 |
| 1915 | 11 | #2,576 | 747 | #156 |
| 1910 | — | — | 140 | #191 |
| 1905 | — | — | 85 | #206 |
| 1900 | — | — | 81 | #219 |
| 1895 | — | — | 78 | #191 |
| 1890 | — | — | 61 | #212 |
| 1885 | — | — | 35 | #282 |
| 1880 | — | — | 34 | #284 |
Famous people named Don
- Don Johnson Actor · b. 1949
- Don Shirley Musician · 1927–2013
- Don Cherry Musician · 1936–1995
- Don King Celebrity · b. 1931
- Don Siegel Film director · 1912–1991
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Don in 2025?
Don ranked #1,795 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 89 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Don?
168,839 babies have been named Don in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Don most popular?
Don peaked in 1946, when 4,130 newborns received the name.
Is Don a boy or girl name?
Don is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Don rising or falling?
Don is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Don?
Well-known people named Don include Don Johnson (actor), Don Shirley (musician), Don Cherry (musician).