Domhnall
Say it: DOH-nal
BoyIrishMeans world ruler8 letters2 syllables
#577
in Ireland (2025)
#552 with spellings combined
5
babies in 2025
#185
best rank (1985)
293
babies since 1966
Down 47
10-year rank change
Domhnall through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #552 |
| 2024 | 8 | #413 |
| 2023 | 8 | #426 |
| 2022 | 3 | #745 |
| 2021 | 6 | #479 |
| 2020 | 4 | #606 |
| 2019 | 12 | #324 |
| 2018 | 12 | #324 |
| 2017 | 9 | #394 |
| 2016 | 5 | #541 |
| 2015 | 6 | #505 |
| 2014 | 7 | #468 |
| 2013 | 6 | #479 |
| 2012 | 5 | #548 |
| 2011 | 5 | #540 |
| 2010 | 6 | #491 |
| 2009 | 5 | #532 |
| 2007 | 5 | #473 |
| 2005 | 6 | #370 |
| 2002 | 4 | #393 |
| 1998 | 3 | #369 |
| 1997 | 5 | #303 |
| 1996 | 8 | #251 |
| 1995 | 4 | #301 |
| 1994 | 8 | #225 |
| 1993 | 4 | #302 |
| 1992 | 5 | #267 |
| 1991 | 5 | #263 |
| 1990 | 7 | #229 |
| 1989 | 5 | #253 |
| 1988 | 3 | #319 |
| 1987 | 5 | #249 |
| 1986 | 7 | #230 |
| 1985 | 11 | #185 |
| 1984 | 6 | #234 |
| 1983 | 8 | #214 |
| 1982 | 11 | #196 |
| 1981 | 13 | #186 |
| 1980 | 4 | #288 |
| 1979 | 5 | #269 |
| 1978 | 4 | #283 |
| 1975 | 3 | #321 |
| 1974 | 3 | #321 |
| 1973 | 4 | #290 |
| 1972 | 6 | #238 |
| 1971 | 4 | #280 |
| 1970 | 4 | #278 |
| 1968 | 4 | #243 |
| 1967 | 4 | #245 |
| 1966 | 3 | #256 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Domhnall mean?
World ruler
Irish, from Proto-Celtic dumno-ualos (world ruler).
Say it right
DOHnal
The "mh" is barely heard here, so the name sounds much like Donal.
Not:DOM-nal
The story of Domhnall
Domhnall goes back to a Proto-Celtic name, dumno-ualos, made of words for world and ruler, so it is usually explained as “world ruler”. Dónall and Donal are simpler Irish spellings, and the Scottish Gaelic Dòmhnall gave English the name Donald. The final d of Donald crept in partly because English speakers misheard the Gaelic.
It was a royal name in medieval Scotland and Ireland, carried by several Scottish kings known in English as Donald. The best-known Domhnall today is the Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson.
In Ireland this spelling has always been far less common than Donal. Its best rank was number 185 in 1985, and 5 boys were given it in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Domhnall (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Donald
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Domhnall | 5 | 290 |
| Dómhnall | under 3 | 3 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #199 (1999); 37 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.