Donnel (pronounced DAH-nuhl) is a unisex name of Gaelic origin, tracing back to the Irish Domhnall—literally “world-mighty” or “ruler of the world.” The name carries an enduring association with leadership and measured strength, conjuring images of Celtic chieftains and the disciplined champions of Persian epics alike. Although its presence in the United States has remained modest, Donnel’s steady appearance on name lists over the past century suggests a quiet resilience rather than a fleeting trend. Etymologically straightforward—two syllables, stable consonants—its very simplicity can feel as artfully balanced as a couplet in the Shahnameh. It avoids the fanfare of longer names and yet never feels underdressed, offering underplayed authority for parents drawn to substance over spectacle.
| Donnel Pumphrey - |
| Donnel Baird - |