Dornell is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It was first used by African Americans during the mid-20th century, gaining popularity as an independent choice rather than a variation of an existing name. Dornell is composed of two distinct elements: 'Dorne', which may be derived from the English surname 'Durne' or the German 'Dorn', meaning thorn, and 'Ell', a popular diminutive suffix often used in African American naming practices. This combination results in a name that stands alone, without immediate association with other names, adding to its uniqueness.
The name Dornell has seen a varied pattern of popularity over the decades. Between 1947 and 2005, there were a total of 298 births registered with this name. The years 1958 and 1960 experienced peaks in popularity with 13 and 14 births respectively, indicating that these years might have been particularly favored for the name Dornell. Conversely, some years saw only a single-digit number of births bearing this name, such as 1947, 1954, and several others. Overall, while Dornell has not been among the most popular names historically, it has maintained a consistent presence in baby naming trends over the given period.