Donald

The masculine given name Donald is a version of the Scottish Gaelic name Domhnall (and variants Dómhnall, Dòmhnall, Domhnull, and Dòmhnull), 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. Donald has numerous other Celtic-language cognates: Irish Dónal (Anglicised as Donal and Donall), Old Irish Domnall, Welsh Dyfnwal, Old Welsh Dumngual, Cumbric Dumngual, and Common Celtic *Dumno-ualos ("world-wielder"). Although the feminine given name Donna is sometimes used as a feminine form of Donald, the names are not etymologically related.