The name Donny is of Scottish origin, derived from the given name Donald, which means 'proud chief' or 'world mighty'. It is a diminutive form of Donald, often used as an independent given name but can also serve as a nickname or short form for other names beginning with 'Don', such as Donovan or Dion. Donny gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the mid-20th century and has since been associated with various notable individuals, including American musician Donny Osmond.
The name Donny appears to have been most popular between the years of 1957 and 1978, with a total of 40 births recorded over this period. The peak years for the name were 1957, 1969, 1973, 1977, and 1981, each seeing between 5 to 6 births per year.