Donald in Irish: Donal
The Irish form of Donald is Donal, a boy's name meaning “ruler of the world.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Donal
- Meaning
- Ruler of the world
- Gender
- Boy
How do you say Donald in Irish?
Donald in Irish is Donal, pronounced DOE-nal. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first.
What does Donal mean?
Donal means “ruler of the world.” Donald is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Donal: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Donald in Ireland?
Donald wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2019, when 3 baby boys got the name. It was most popular in 1965, when 37 baby boys were named Donald, No. 96 that year. The most babies got the name in 1967: 37. The records go back to 1964, when 27 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | No. 764 |
| 2010 | 3 | No. 720 |
| 2005 | 4 | No. 448 |
| 2003 | 4 | No. 423 |
| 2000 | 3 | No. 390 |
| 1991 | 5 | No. 263 |
| 1989 | 5 | No. 253 |
| 1988 | 8 | No. 207 |
| 1987 | 3 | No. 303 |
| 1986 | 3 | No. 317 |
| 1985 | 6 | No. 234 |
| 1984 | 7 | No. 224 |
| 1983 | 14 | No. 178 |
| 1982 | 9 | No. 217 |
| 1981 | 15 | No. 176 |
| 1980 | 15 | No. 184 |
| 1979 | 13 | No. 187 |
| 1978 | 17 | No. 166 |
| 1977 | 24 | No. 142 |
| 1976 | 15 | No. 181 |
| 1975 | 16 | No. 173 |
| 1974 | 13 | No. 190 |
| 1973 | 22 | No. 145 |
| 1972 | 26 | No. 138 |
| 1971 | 31 | No. 123 |
| 1970 | 29 | No. 120 |
| 1969 | 31 | No. 111 |
| 1968 | 36 | No. 100 |
| 1967 | 37 | No. 100 |
| 1966 | 34 | No. 103 |
| 1965 | 37 | No. 96 |
| 1964 | 27 | No. 104 |
Donal in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Donal, letter by letter.
- DDair, oak
- OOnn, gorse
- NNion, ash
- AAilm, pine
- LLuis, rowan
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Donald
Questions about Donald
- What is Donald in Irish?
- The Irish form of Donald is Donal, pronounced DOE-nal. Donal means “ruler of the world.”
- How do you pronounce Donal?
- Donal is pronounced DOE-nal. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Donald a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Donald is a boy's name.