Unisex name · since 1922
Donelle
Since 1922, U.S. Social Security records show 1,127 babies named Donelle, peaking in 1970. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #6,902 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,127
- born since 1922
- 1970s
- peak decade
1,127 girls have been named Donelle since 1922, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Donelle recorded 1,127 times among girls since 1922, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1922 to 2007.
- #6,902 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 1,127 born since 1922
- 1970s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Donelle ranks #6,902 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,127 born since 1922, peaking in the 1970s.
- #6,902 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,127
- born since 1922
- 1970s
- peak decade
Donelle's 1,127 recorded births place it above 90.45% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by California.
Donelle's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Donelle splits its recorded history at 1971: 53% of all births land in the more recent half, 47% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1941 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1970 peak of 42 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Donelle popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1922–2007
- Peak year (1970)
- 42
- Annual births at peak, across 86 years of records
Donelle popularity over time - boys
323 total births recorded since 1967 (Donelle as boys' name)
Donelle by decade
1970s is the heaviest window (315 births, 28% of the file).
1970s was Donelle's strongest decade.
315 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 28% of all-time use.
Donelle births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 7
1920s
7 births
- 1940s 55
1940s
55 births
- 1950s
1950s
165 births
- 1960s
1960s
263 births
- 1970s
1970s
315 births
- 1980s
1980s
215 births
- 1990s 90
1990s
90 births
- 2000s 17
2000s
17 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 315 births (28% of all-time use).
How Donelle compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Donelle's total volume
Donelle by state
Where Donelle concentrates geographically, total births since 1922
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 73 | 6.5% |
| #2 | Illinois | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 5 | 0.4% |
73 of 1,127 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Donelle? ▼
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What to do with Donelle's data
- Donelle's decade-level peak was the 1970s (315 total births); usage has since declined to 17 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Donelles (73 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Donelle
Nearby Names Like Donelle
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Donelle
Compare Donelle side by side: Donelle vs Donna Donelle vs Dona Donelle vs Donnie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Donelle: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1970)
Similar record span (~85 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, 1922–2007 (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 Donelle 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.