Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Donn
BoyIrish, Scottish· “variant of Don; Irish brown”
- Meaning
- variant of Don; Irish brown
- Origin
- Irish, Scottish
- Pronunciation
- DAHN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #366 (1949)
- Peak year
- 1949
Meaning and origin of Donn
Donn is an Irish and Scottish name that is usually said to mean “variant of Don; Irish brown”.
Donn is usually a variant spelling of Don, the short form of Donald, which comes from the Gaelic Domhnall, meaning world ruler. The spelling also matches the Irish word donn, meaning brown or dark, and Donn is the name of an ancient Irish figure associated with the dead and with a rocky island off the coast of Munster, called Tech Duinn, the house of Donn. In the United States the name was most often given as a simple form of Don. It is said DAHN. Donnie is a friendly nickname. The double n gives a slight Irish or Scottish flavor.
Other spellings with the same sound: Don.
Popularity over time
Donn first appears in US Social Security records in 1912. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 47 different years, starting in 1924. Its best national rank was #366 in 1949, the same year it reached its highest count of 341 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #1,429 in 1920, #424 in 1950, #1,870 in 1980, and #4,444 in 2000. Of the 6,553 US boys named Donn since records began, 28% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 1,294 babies. Since 2010, 34 more have been named Donn.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Vaughn, Linwood, Lon, Galen, and Lanny.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Donn is usually pronounced DAHN, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with D and ends in “-nn”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Don.
Middle names for Donn
A few middle names that flow with Donn: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Donn
Similar names
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Lists that include Donn
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Donn mean?
Donn is an Irish and Scottish name that is usually said to mean “variant of Don; Irish brown”.
What is the origin of the name Donn?
Donn has Irish and Scottish roots. Donn is usually a variant spelling of Don, the short form of Donald, which comes from the Gaelic Domhnall, meaning world ruler.
Is Donn a popular name?
No. Donn was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Donn a boy or girl name?
Donn is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Donn?
Donn is usually pronounced DAHN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings