Boys' name · since 1915
Donaldson
Donaldson has 122 recorded births since 1915 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1964 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #16,106 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 122
- born since 1915
- 1930s
- peak decade
Donaldson sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 122 recorded since 1915.
Social Security Administration records show Donaldson recorded 122 times among boys since 1915, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1930s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1915 to 1998.
- #16,106 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 122 born since 1915
- 1930s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Donaldson ranks #16,106 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 122 born since 1915, peaking in the 1930s.
- #16,106 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 122
- born since 1915
- 1930s
- peak decade
Donaldson's 122 recorded births place it above 64.5% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
No state rows cleared SSA’s public reporting threshold for this name.
Donaldson's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Donaldson's SSA record in two at 1939 and the more recent half accounts for 51% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 49%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1915, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1964 peak of 8, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Donaldson popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1915–1998
- Peak year (1964)
- 8
- Annual births at peak, across 84 years of records
Donaldson by decade
1930s is the heaviest window (28 births, 23% of the file).
1930s was Donaldson's strongest decade.
28 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Donaldson births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 11
1910s
11 births
- 1920s
1920s
27 births
- 1930s
1930s
28 births
- 1940s 11
1940s
11 births
- 1950s
1950s
17 births
- 1960s 8
1960s
8 births
- 1970s 10
1970s
10 births
- 1990s 10
1990s
10 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 28 births (23% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Donaldson's data
- Donaldson's usage has stayed within range of its 1930s decade-level peak (28 total births) through the 1990s (10) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Donaldson
Nearby Names Like Donaldson
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Donaldson
Compare Donaldson side by side: Donaldson vs Donald Donaldson vs Don Donaldson vs Donovan
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Donaldson: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1964)
Similar record span (~83 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1915–1998 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Donaldson draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.