Don

Meaning of Don

Don means "world ruler" or "chief". It's often a shortened version of Donald.

Don has Scottish, Irish roots — browse every Scottish, Irish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Don

After ranking as high as #829 in 2000, Don has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Don

• Donald Trump
  U.S. President and businessman
• Don Rickles
  Comedian and actor
• Don Knotts
  Actor, known for comedy
• Don Johnson
  Actor, Miami Vice star
• Don McLean
  Singer-songwriter

More Scottish, Irish names

Questions about the name Don

What does the name Don mean?

Don means don means "world ruler" or "chief". it's often a shortened version of donald, and it comes from Scottish, Irish origins.

Is Don a boy's or a girl's name?

Don is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Don?

Don did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Don most popular?

Don peaked at #829 in 2000.