Donyae is of African American origin, derived from the Swahili word 'Donyi', meaning 'to love'. It is a unisex name but is more commonly used for boys. The name has gained popularity in recent years and was first noted to be given to at least five babies in the United States in 2016. Spelling variations of Donyae include Donay, Donai, and Dunyae.
"The name Donyae saw a peak in popularity around the late '90s to early 2000s, with a significant jump from 21 births in 1996 to a high of 24 births in 2004. However, after 2006, the number of births decreased steadily, with only a single year (2012) exceeding double digits since then."