Donelle
Every Donelle since 1922 — 1,450 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Donelle
Donelle is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1922, 1,450 American babies have been named Donelle — about 78% girls and 22% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1979, when 48 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
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 Donelle stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Donelle 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 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | 7 | #10,015 |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 7 | #14,327 | 9 | #8,363 |
| 2006 | — | — | 11 | #7,048 |
| 2005 | — | — | 7 | #9,388 |
| 2004 | — | — | 9 | #7,705 |
| 2003 | — | — | 7 | #8,909 |
| 2002 | 5 | #16,158 | 6 | #9,704 |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 5 | #15,745 | 7 | #8,444 |
| 1995 | 9 | #8,972 | 6 | #8,085 |
| 1990 | 16 | #5,625 | 15 | #3,829 |
| 1985 | 21 | #3,887 | 9 | #4,423 |
| 1980 | 22 | #3,640 | 12 | #3,472 |
| 1975 | 31 | #2,528 | 7 | #4,453 |
| 1970 | 42 | #1,988 | — | — |
| 1965 | 26 | #2,361 | — | — |
| 1960 | 18 | #2,925 | — | — |
| 1955 | 21 | #2,423 | — | — |
| 1950 | 13 | #2,942 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Donelle in 2025?
Donelle did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Donelle?
1,450 babies have been named Donelle in the United States since 1922, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Donelle most popular?
Donelle peaked in 1979, when 48 newborns received the name.
Is Donelle a boy or girl name?
Donelle is used for both: about 78% of babies named Donelle have been girls and 22% boys.
Is the name Donelle rising or falling?
Donelle has been roughly stable over the past decade.