Donald

Donald is a Scottish masculine given name. It is derived from the Gaelic name Dòmhnall.¹ This comes from the Proto-Celtic *Dumno-ualos ("world-ruler" or "world-wielder").²³⁴ The final -d in Donald is partly derived from a misinterpretation of the Gaelic pronunciation by English speakers. A short form of Donald is Don, and pet forms of Donald include Donnie and Donny. The feminine given name Donella is derived from Donald.¹

Donald has cognates in other Celtic languages: Modern Irish Dónal (anglicised as Donal and Donall);⁵ Scottish Gaelic Dòmhnall,⁶ Domhnull⁷ and Dòmhnull;⁸ Welsh Dyfnwal and Cumbric Dumnagual. Although the feminine given name Donna is sometimes used as a feminine form of Donald, the names are not etymologically related.¹

Domnall or Domhnall is the name of many ancient and medieval Gaelic kings and noblemen:

• Dyfnwal Moelmud (Dunvallo Molmutius), legendary king of pre-Roman Britain
• Dyfnwal Hen (Dumnagual I), Ruler of Alt Clut (Strathclyde) (450–475)
• Domnall Brecc, king of Dál Riata (d. 642)
• Domnall mac Áedo, High King of the Northern Uí Néill and Ireland (d. 642)
• Domnall Midi, High King of Clann Cholmáin and Ireland (d. 763)
• Domnall mac Ailpín (812–863)
• Donald II of Scotland (889–900)
• Domnall mac Eimín, Mormaer of Mar (d. 1014)
• Donald III of Scotland (1033–1099)
• Domnall Gerrlámhach, King of Dublin (d. 1135)
• Domnall Ua Lochlainn, High King of Ireland (1083 and 1121)
• Domhnall I, Earl of Mar (1276–1301)
• Domhnall II, Earl of Mar (1305–1332)
• Domhnall, Earl of Lennox (1333–1365)
• Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde (d. 908×915), also known by the names Donald, Domhnall, and Domnall
• Dyfnwal ab Owain (d. 975), also known by the names Donald and Domnall
• Owain ap Dyfnwal (fl. 934)

• Domhnall mac Conchobair Ó Briain (died 1579), Gaelic Irish military leader
• Domhnall Gleeson (born 1983), Irish actor
• Domhnall mac Dáire Mac Bruaideadha (fl. c. 1600), Irish poet
• Domhnall MacAuley (born 1957), Scottish physician and professor
• Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna (1887–1967), Scottish Gaelic poet

• Don Adams (1923–2005), American actor, comedian and director
• Don Airey (born 1948), English keyboardist
• Don Aker (born 1955), Canadian writer and educator
• Don Ameche (1908–1993), Hollywood actor
• Don Amero (born 1980), Canadian singer
• Don Barksdale (1923–1993), American basketball player
• Don Bertoia, Canadian middle-distance runner
• Don Black (baseball) (1916–1959), American baseball player
• Don Black (tennis) (1927–2000), Rhodesian tennis player
• Don Bluth (born 1937), animator, film director, and producer
• Don Bowman (singer) (1937–2013), American comedian, country music singer, and songwriter
• Don Callis (born 1963), Canadian professional wrestler, wrestling manager, and actor
• Don Cazayoux (born 1964), American lawyer and politician
• Don Chaffey (1917–1990), British film director, writer, producer, and art director
• Don Chard, Canadian politician
• Don Cheadle (born 1964), American actor and producer
• Don Cherry (born 1934), Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator
• Don Cherry (American football) (born 1994), American football player
• Don Cherry (singer) (1924–2018), American singer and golfer
• Don Cherry (trumpeter) (1936–1995), American jazz trumpeter
• Don R. Christensen (1916–2006), American animator, cartoonist, and writer
• Don Christopher (1934–2022), American farmer
• Don Ciccone (1946–2016), American singer-songwriter, member of the band The Critters
• Don Cornelius (1936–2012), American television show host and producer
• Don Cornell (1919–2004), stage name of Luigi Varlaro, American singer
• Dominick Don Costa (1925–1983), American conductor and record producer
• Don Covay (1936–2015), American singer and songwriter
• Don Criqui (born 1950), American sportscaster
• Don Diablo (born 1980), Dutch DJ, record producer, musician and songwriter of electronic music
• Don Digirolamo, American re-recording mixer
• Don Dokken (born 1953), American singer, lead singer of Dokken
• Don Drysdale (1936–1993), American baseball pitcher and sportscaster
• Don Dunstan (1926–1999), South Australian politician
• Don Estelle (1933–2003), British actor and singer
• Don Everly (1937–2021), American country-influenced rock and roll singer and guitarist
• Don Felder (born 1947), American singer-songwriter and guitarist, former member of the Eagles
• Don Finlay (1909–1970), British athlete and Royal Air Force officer
• Don Frye (born 1965), American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler
• Don Forsht, American politician
• Don Garber (born 1957), American sports executive
• Don Gardner (1931–2018), American singer-songwriter
• Don Gibson (1928–2003), American songwriter and country musician
• Don Gilman (1934–2005), American politician
• Don Goldstein (1937–2022), American basketball player
• Don Gorske (born 1953), Guinness World Record holder of most Big Mac hamburgers eaten
• Don Gullett (born 1951), American baseball pitcher
• Don Gullick (1924–2000), Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer and coach
• Don Hasselbeck (born 1955), American football player
• Don Henley (born 1947), founding member of the Eagles
• Don Herbert (1917–2007), television's "Mr. Wizard"
• Don Hewitt (1922–2009), American television news producer
• Don Ho (1930–2007), American pop musician, singer and entertainer
• Don Hutson (1913–1997), American football player
• Don Imus (1940–2019), American radio and television host
• Don Johnson (born 1949), American actor, producer and singer
• Don Johnson (basketball) (1930–2019), American basketball player and coach
• Don Johnson (sports executive) (1930–2012), Canadian sports executive
• Don King (boxing promoter) (born 1931), American boxing promoter
• Don King (coach) (born 1926), American football player and coach
• Don King (defensive back) (born 1964), American football player
• Don King (defensive lineman) (1929–2014), American football player
• Don King (musician) (born 1954), American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and trumpeter
• Don King (photographer) (born 1960), American photographer, cinematographer, and film director
• Don Roy King (born 1947), American television director
• Don Kirshner (1934–2011), American music publisher, rock music producer, talent manager, and songwriter
• Don Knotts (1924–2006), American actor and comedian
• Don Larsen (1929–2020), American baseball player
• Don Lemon (born 1966), American television personality and current host of CNN Tonight
• Don L. Lind (1930–2022), American scientist, U.S. Navy officer, naval aviator, and NASA astronaut
• Don MacLean (basketball) (born 1970), American basketball player and color commentator
• Don Marion Davis (1917–2020), American child actor
• Don Mattingly, American pro baseball player and manager
• Don McGowan (1938–2023), Canadian television personality
• Don McLean (born 1945), American singer-songwriter and musician
• Don Messick (1926–1997), American voice actor
• Don Muraco (born 1939), American professional wrestler
• Don Murray (1929–2024), American actor
• Don Nelson (born 1940), American basketball player and coach
• Don Nelson (screenwriter) (1927–2013), American screenwriter, film producer, and jazz musician
• Don Nickles (born 1948), American politician
• Don Omar (born 1978), Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor
• Don Paterson (born 1963), Scottish poet, writer and musician
• Don Patinkin (1922–1995), Israeli-American economist
• Don Payne, American writer and producer
• Don Quarrie (born 1951), Jamaican sprinter
• Don Reed (born 1959), American actor
• Don Reid (born 1945), lead singer of American country group The Statler Brothers
• Don Rickles (1926–2017), American stand-up comedian
• Don Robesky (1906–2002), American football player
• Don Robinson (1934–2025), British businessman and former wrestler
• Don Rondo (1930–2011), American singer
• Don Shula (1930–2020), American football coach
• Don Slater (born 1954), British sociologist
• Don Trahan (born 1949), American golfer, father of D. J. Trahan
• Don Van Vliet (1941–2010), American singer, songwriter and musician, known professionally as Captain Beefheart
• Don Warrington (born 1951), Trinidadian-born British actor
• Don Waterman (born 1950), American racing driver
• Don Webb (American football) (born 1939), American football player
• Don Webb (playwright), English playwright and dramatist
• Don Webb (writer) (born 1960), American science fiction, mystery, and horror writer
• Don Wilson (American football) (born 1961), American football player
• Don Wilson (announcer) (1900–1982), American radio and television announcer and actor
• Don Wilson (Australian footballer) (1914–2015), Australian footballer
• Don Wilson (baseball) (1945–1975), American baseball pitcher
• Don Wilson (cricketer) (1927–2012), English cricketer
• Don Wilson (pastor) (born 1949), American Christian pastor and creationist
• Don E. Wilson (born 1944), American zoologist
• Don M. Wilson III (born 1948), American banker and corporate director
• Don W. Wilson (born 1942), American historian and archivist
• Don Williams (1939–2017), American singer-songwriter
• Don Williams (guard) (1919–2001), American football player
• Don Williams (American football coach) (1927–2013), American football, track and field coach
• Don Williams (footballer, born 1935) (1935–1995), Australian rules footballer
• Don Williams (footballer, born 1939) (born 1939), Australian rules footballer
• Don Williams (poker player) (1942–2013), American poker player
• Don Williams (racing driver) (1947–1989), American racing driver
• Don Zewin (1952–2021), American professional poker player

• Donal Carey (1937–2025), Irish politician
• Donal Hord (1902–1966), American sculptor
• Donal Kelly (1938–2025), Irish journalist and broadcaster
• Donal Logue (born 1969), Canadian actor
• Donal MacIntyre (born 1966), Irish investigative reporter
• Donal Murray (bishop) (1940–2024), Roman Catholic Bishop of Limerick (1996–2009)
• Donal O'Brien (disambiguation), several individuals
• Donal O'Donoghue (1894–1971), Irish Fianna Fáil politician
• Donal O'Shea, Canadian mathematician
• Donal O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several individuals
• Donal Roe MacCarthy Mór (died 1302), 13th-century noble of Ireland
• Donal MacCarthy Reagh (1450/1460–1531), 9th Prince of Carbery (1505–1531)
• Donal Skehan (born 1986), Irish singer, television personality/presenter

• Dónal Lunny (born 1947), Irish folk musician
• Dónal Óg Cusack (born 1977), Irish hurler

• Donald Alarie (born 1945), Canadian writer
• Donald Ardell, American politician
• Donald Bailey (1934–2013), American jazz drummer
• Donald Bradman (1908–2001), Australian cricketer
• Donald Brashear (born 1972), American ice hockey player
• Donald Burgess (born 1933), British track cyclist
• Donald Byrd (1932–2013), American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter
• Donald Cameron (born 1954), Australian water polo player and coach
• Donald Campbell (1921–1967), British speed record breaker
• Donald M. Campbell Jr. (born 1955), retired commanding general of United States Army Europe
• Donald Capelle, Marshallese politician
• Donald C. Carlson (1929–2005), American politician
• Donald Chumley (born 1962), American football player
• Donald Crisp (1882–1974), English filmmaker
• Donald D. Deshler (born 1947), American educator
• Donald D'Alesio, American football coach
• Donald Dewar (1937–2000), Scottish statesman
• Donald Disney, Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Donald Douglas, multiple people
• Donald Driver (born 1975), American football player
• Donald "Duck" Dunn (1941–2012), American bass guitarist
• Donald Fagen (born 1948), American musician
• Donald Faison (born 1974), American actor and comedian
• Donald Foss (1945–2022), American billionaire
• Donald Friese (born 1940), American billionaire
• Donald Henry Gaskins (1933–1991), American cannibalistic serial killer, rapist, and thief
• Donald Geisler (born 1978), Filipino taekwondo athlete
• Donald Gibb (born 1954), American actor
• Donald Glover (born 1983), American actor, musician, writer, comedian, and producer
• Donald Gordon (cricketer) (born 1990), English cricketer
• Donald J. Guter (born 1948), American lawyer and retired US Navy rear admiral
• Donald J. Harris (born 1938), Jamaican-American economist
• Donald Hawkins (born 1992), American football player
• Donald Harvey (1952–2017), American serial killer
• Donald Hewagama (1926–2009), Sri Lankan Sinhala Judge Advocate General
• Donald Hewlett (1922–2011), British actor
• Donald Hill-Eley (born 1969), American football coach and former player
• Donald Thomas Hornstein, American law professor
• Donald Izacus Panjaitan (1925–1965), Indonesian general
• Donald Izzett (born 1975), American man who has been missing since 1995
• Donald Eugene Fields II (born 1964), American criminal
• Donald Judd (1928–1994), American artist
• Donald Keating (1924–1995), British lawyer
• Donald Keene (1922–2019), American-Japanese literary scholar
• Donald P. Kent (1916–1972), American sociologist
• Donald Knuth (born 1938), American computer scientist
• Donald Woodward Lee (1910–1977), American philologist
• Donald Maclean (spy) (1913–1983), British diplomat and Soviet spy
• Donald MacCormick (1939–2009), Scottish journalist
• Donald R. MacLeod (1902–1976), Canadian politician
• Donald Marmen, Canadian politician
• Donald Albert Marshall (born 1932), Canadian politician
• Donald McFarlane, British-American politician
• Donald R. McMonagle (born 1952), American astronaut
• Donald McQuade (1941–2025), American academic and writer
• Donald Moatshe (born 1985), South African musician
• Donald Mote (1900–1968), American judge
• Donald W. Munro (1916–1998), Canadian politician
• Donald Nicol (1843–1903), Scottish politician
• Donald Nicolaisen (1944–2019), American politician
• Donald Nixon (1914–1987), American businessman
• Donald Obeyesekere (1888–1964), Sri Lankan Sinhala legislator
• Donald O'Connor (1925–2003), American dancer, singer, and actor
• Donald of Ogilvy (Saint Donald)
• Donald Parham (born 1997), American football player
• Donald Perera, 11th commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force
• Donald H. Peterson (1933–2018), United States Air Force colonel and astronaut
• Donald Pettit (born 1955), American chemical engineer and astronaut
• Donald Pleasence (1919–1995), English actor
• Donald E. Polkinghorne (1936–2018), American academic and psychologist
• Donald Ramotar (born 1950), 8th president of Guyana
• Donald Jasen Ranaweera (1921–2000), Sri Lankan Sinhala planter, press baron, and politician
• Donald Richie (1924–2013), American-born author
• Donald A. Ritchie (born 1945), Historian Emeritus of the United States Senate
• Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (born 1947), American musician, guitarist for Blue Öyster Cult
• Donald Rumsfeld (1932–2021), American businessman and government official
• Donald Sanford (born 1987), American-Israeli Olympic sprinter
• Donald Sild (born 1968), Estonian javelin thrower
• Donald "Deke" Slayton (1924–1993), American astronaut
• Donald Spero (born 1939), American world champion rower
• Donald Sterling (born 1934), American billionaire
• Donald Sutherland (1935–2024), Canadian actor
• Donald A. Thomas (born 1955), American engineer and astronaut
• Donald J. Trahan, Jr. (born 1980), American golfer
• Donald Triplett (1933–2023), first person to be diagnosed with autism
• Donald Trump (born 1946), President of the United States, businessman
• Donald Trump Jr. (born 1977), American businessman
• Donald Tsang (born 1944), former Hong Kong civil servant
• Donald Tusk (born 1957), Polish politician, Prime Minister of Poland, and then–President of the European Council
• Donald Wailan-Walalangi (born 1960), Indonesian tennis player
• Donald Watson (1910–2005), English animal rights advocate
• Donald W. Webber (1906–1995), justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
• Donald Whiston (1927–2020), American ice hockey player
• Donald Whitton (1923–2018), Canadian cellist and teacher
• Donald E. Williams (1942–2016), United States Navy captain and astronaut
• Donald Williamson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Donald Wilson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Donald Young (tennis) (born 1989), American tennis player

• Donaldo Arza (born 1946), Panamanian track and field athlete
• Donaldo González (born 1971), Panamanian footballer
• Donaldo Hontiveros (born 1977), Filipino basketball player
• Donaldo Macedo (born 1950), American academic
• Donaldo Méndez (born 1978), Venezuelan baseball player
• Donaldo Morales (born 1982), Honduran footballer
• Donaldo Ortiz Colín (born 1961), Mexican politician
• Donaldo Ernesto Reyes (born 1939), Honduran lawyer and politician

• Donnell Ballagh O'Cahan (died 1627), Irish landowner and rebel
• Donnell Rawlings (born 1968), comedian

• Donald the Scottish Twin, a fictional character from The Railway Series and its televised adaptation Thomas & Friends
• Donald Anderson, a character in the video game Bully
• Don the Beachcomber, stage name of Donn Beach, proprietor of a chain of tiki bars of the same name
• Donald Blake, the secret identity of The Mighty Thor, from Marvel Comics
• Don Enrique, a nobleman/landowner, from the film The Curse of the Werewolf, portrayed by Peter Sallis
• Donald Duck, Disney animated cartoon and comic-book character
• Donnie Darko, protagonist of a film of the same name
• Donald "Don" Draper, protagonist of the AMC television series Mad Men
• Donald "Ducky" Mallard, character in the TV show NCIS
• Donald Fisher, fictional character portrayed by Norman Coburn in Home and Away
• Don Flamenco, a fictional Spanish boxer from the Punch-Out!! series
• Donald Morden, fictional character from the video game series Metal Slug
• Sir Donald McDuck, Disney character who is an ancestor of Scrooge McDuck and Donald Duck
• Donald Pierce, a Marvel Comics super villain