Originating from the Latin word 'donatus', meaning 'given as a gift', the name Donat is of Italian derivation. It gained popularity during the Middle Ages, likely due to its association with Saint Denis, also known as Saint Dionysius, who was a Christian martyr and bishop in France.
Here are the total number of births with name Donat recorded annually between 1894 and 1966, peaking at 22 in 1918 with a steady decline thereafter, averaging around 6 births per year from 1940 onwards.