Full Breakdown
Decline of Baby Name “Donald” Amid President Trump’s Low Favorability
6/23/2026, 11:01:19 PM
Core Event: Record Low Popularity of “Donald” in 2023
A review of Social Security Administration (SSA) records by the data-analytics firm NOTUS shows that fewer than 400 newborns received the name “Donald” in the most recent year, placing the name at 690th on the national popularity list. The drop occurs as President Donald Trump’s favorability ratings have fallen to historic lows during his second term. The analysis links the name’s decline to the president’s public standing, noting that even in Florida—Trump’s declared home state—only 21 baby boys were named Donald last year.
Historical Context: The Rise and Fall of the Name “Donald”
The name “Donald” peaked in 1934 with more than 30,400 babies receiving it, and it remained within the top 100 names through 1990. The name’s prominence coincided with the early public life of the future president, whose media profile surged after a 1990 Vanity Fair feature. In 2017, Donald’s first year in office, the name briefly rose a few places before resuming a steady decline, losing over 200 ranking positions by the projected 2025 list.
Data Overview: SSA Statistics and NOTUS Findings
- National applications (2023): < 400, rank 690.
- Florida applications (2023): 21, tied with rare names such as “Abner” and “Eros.”
- Historical peak (1934): > 30,400 births.
- Top-100 status: Maintained through 1990, exited thereafter.
- 2017 trend: Small uptick, followed by a “nearly unabated free fall” over the next eight years.
Implications: Naming Trends as a Cultural Barometer
The steep reduction in babies named Donald illustrates how contemporary political figures can influence personal naming choices. The correlation between the president’s declining approval and the name’s rarity suggests that public sentiment may extend into private decisions such as infant naming. Analysts view the pattern as a measurable indicator of cultural attitudes toward a political leader, reflecting broader societal reactions beyond electoral outcomes.
Official Data Summary
The SSA, as the federal agency responsible for recording baby names, confirmed that the name Donald ranked 690th in popularity for the latest reporting year, with fewer than 400 applications nationwide. State-level data from Florida corroborated the national trend, showing only 21 registrations for the name. These figures constitute the official statistical basis for the NOTUS analysis.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The federal agency received fewer than 400 Social Security card applications for baby Donalds last year, making ‘Donald’ the nation’s 690th most popular baby name amid Trump’s return to the White House for a second term,” — Dave Levinthal, NOTUS
- “‘Donald’ did tick up a few notches in 2017, Trump’s first year in office, but continued its nearly unabated free fall for the next eight years, losing more than 200 popularity places by 2025.” — Dave Levinthal, NOTUS
- “Even in Florida, Trump’s new home state and a Republican stronghold, parents minted just 21 baby boy Donalds last year, at par with the names ‘Abner,’ ‘Enoch,’ ‘Neythan,’ ‘Ariun,’ ‘Eros,’ ‘Stone’ and ‘Westley,’ and slightly behind the likes of ‘Mohammad,’ 'Kash,’ ‘Brandon,’ ‘Maximus,’ ‘Keanu’ and ‘Truce,’ among hundreds of others,” — Dave Levinthal, NOTUS
- “Parents haven’t been influenced by the first lady, either. ‘Melania’ once cracked the top 1,000 most popular baby girl names – in 2017 – but did not appear before or after Trump’s first year in office, according to Social Security Administration records.” — Dave Levinthal, NOTUS
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The NOTUS analysis projects the name’s rank through 2025, but official SSA data beyond the most recent year are not yet released, leaving a gap in verification of the projected decline. No alternative data sources were cited to confirm or dispute the correlation between presidential favorability and naming trends.
