Donald

This article is about the given name. For other uses, see Donald (disambiguation).
Donald
Pronunciation /ˈdɒnəld/
Gender Masculine
Language(s) English language
Origin
Language(s) Gaelic
Word/name Domhnall, Dómhnall, Dòmhnall, Domhnull, Dòmhnull
Derivation Proto-Celtic dubno + val
Meaning "world" + "rule"
Other names
Short form(s) Don
Pet form(s) Donnie, Donny, Dolly
Cognate(s) Domnall, Dónal, Donal, Donall, Dyfnwal, Dumngual, *Dumno-ualos
Derivative(s) Donella
Look up Donald in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The masculine given name Donald is a version of the Scottish Gaelic name Domhnall[1] (and variants Dómhnall, Dòmhnall,[2] Domhnull,[3] and Dòmhnull),[4] historically the standard Anglicization of the name in Scotland. The name is ultimately derived from the Proto-Celtic world elements dubno ("world") and val ("rule"). The final -d on Donald is partly derived from a misinterpretation of the Gaelic pronunciation by English-speakers, and partly associated with the spelling of similar sounding Germanic-language names, such as Ronald. A short form of Donald is Don. Pet forms of Donald include Donnie, Donny, and Dolly. The feminine given name Donella is derived from Donald.[1] Donald has numerous other Celtic-language cognates: Irish Dónal (Anglicised as Donal and Donall),[5] Old Irish Domnall, Welsh Dyfnwal, Old Welsh Dumngual, Cumbric Dumngual, and Common Celtic *Dumno-ualos ("world-wielder").[6][7] Although the feminine given name Donna is sometimes used as a feminine form of Donald, the names are not etymologically related.[1]

Variations

Old Irish Modern Irish Hiberno-English Scottish Gaelic Scottish English Scots
Domhnall Dónal Donal Dòmhnall Donald Donnald

Kings and noblemen

Domnall or Domhnall is the name of many ancient and medieval Gaelic kings and noblemen:

Given name

Domnhall
Don
Donal
Dónal
Donald
Donnie
Donny

Fictional

Domhnall of Zena, NPC in Dark Souls.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, pp. 78, 402, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1.
  2. ↑ Mark, Colin (2006), The Gaelic-English Dictionary, Routledge, p. 714, ISBN 0-203-22259-8.
  3. ↑ Maceachen, Ewan (1922), Maceachen's Gaelic-English Dictionary (4, revised and enlarged ed.), The Northern Counties Newspaper and Printing and Publishing Company, pp. 467–469.
  4. ↑ MacFarlane, Malcolm (1912), The School Gaelic Dictionary prepared for the use of learners of the Gaelic language, Eneas Mackay, p. 144.
  5. ↑ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 346, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1.
  6. ↑ Koch, John T. (2006), "Dyfnwal ap Tewdor", in Koch, John T., Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO, pp. 639–640, ISBN 1-85109-445-8
  7. ↑ Koch, John T. (2006), "Domnall Brecc", in Koch, John T., Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO, p. 604, ISBN 1-85109-445-8
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