Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Donatello

Donatello

♂ Boy

Pronounced don-ah-TEL-oh /ˌdɒn.əˈtɛl.oʊ/High

Meaning: Given; given by GodHigh

In 30 seconds: Donatello is an Italian name from Latin Donatus meaning 'given by God.' It belongs to one of the greatest sculptors of the Renaissance and one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighLatin, Italian
MeaningGiven; given by God
U.S. rank (2025)#4580 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births22 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 492

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202219902025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Latin Donatus derives from donare (to give). The Italian diminutive Donatello was the nickname of Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (c.1386–1466), the Florentine sculptor whose innovations in perspective and naturalism influenced generations.

In 1984, the character Donatello — the tech-savvy purple-masked Ninja Turtle — introduced the name to millions of children worldwide, creating a double legacy: Renaissance genius and pop-culture hero. Parents today may choose it for either or both associations.

Did you know? The Renaissance master Donatello is credited with creating the first freestanding bronze nude statue since antiquity — his David — a revolutionary moment in Western art history.
Overall data confidence 93%
Oxford Dictionary of First Names — Donatus Latin etymologyEncyclopaedia Britannica — Donatello the sculptor

Variations

DonatoDonatus

Nicknames

DonDonnyTello

Famous Bearers

  • ★Donatello (1386–1466)
    Florentine sculptor of the early Italian Renaissance famous for his bronze David, the first freestanding nude male sculpture since antiquity

If you like Donatello…

Domenico— Italian Catholic name of comparable Renaissance prestige
Dante— Italian literary/historical name of similar cultural weight
Danilo— shares Donatello's Italian roots
Dangelo— lands in the same popularity range
Giancarlo— another Italian name

Explore names like Donatello

By themelatinitalianpop-culturecatholicrenaissance
By meaningGod / DivineGift / Blessing

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Donatello mean?

Donatello means 'given' or 'given by God,' from Latin Donatus (from donare, to give). It is an Italian diminutive of Donato.

How do you pronounce Donatello?

Donatello is pronounced don-ah-TEL-oh, with four syllables and stress on the third.

Is Donatello a boy or girl name?

Donatello is an Italian masculine name used exclusively for boys.

How popular is Donatello?

Donatello is rare in English-speaking countries but recognizable globally through the Renaissance artist and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.

💬 Ask Nia