Don

“Brown, chief or noble (Irish); also short for Donald” — Irish; also English origin

Boy's name · #1795 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Don belongs to an older America first — it reached #50 back in 1934 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1795. About 168,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. Don's short forms are Donnie and Donny.

Around the world: about 1 in 14,000 boys in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 18,000 boys in Switzerland (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 5 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Dons

Don Rickles — American stand-up comedian (1926–2017)
Don Cheadle — American actor (born 1964)
Don Knotts — American actor and stand-up comedian (1924-2006)
Don DeLillo — American novelist, playwright and essayist (born 1936)
Don Bradman — Australian cricketer (1908–2001)

In stories & tradition

Don Juan — Don Giovanni · The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest
Don Camillo — literary character
Don Draper — Mad Men

What Dons become

Among 4,087 notable people named Don:

Sports figures appear 2.17× more often than among typical names — e.g. Don Budge, American tennis player (1915-2000).

Similar names: Glen · Donnie · Duane · Lloyd · Vaughn · Keon

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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