Donzell is of American origin, derived from African roots. It is composed of two elements: 'Don', meaning "dark-haired or dark-skinned", and 'Zell', which signifies "will" or "strength". This given name gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th century and has since been used predominantly among African American communities. Spelling variations include Donzel, Doncell, and Dunzell, though the most common form is Donzell.
The name Donzell experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years with a total of 1043 births recorded between 1924 and 2021. The peak period for this name appears to be from 1957 to 1965, during which there were consistently high numbers of births each year, reaching as many as 23 in 1973-74. After the early 1980s, the popularity of Donzell declined significantly, with fewer than 20 births per year on average from then until present day.