Meaning and background
The story behind Donkey
Donkey is the ordinary English name of the domesticated, long-eared relative of the horse. The word's older origin is uncertain; dictionaries cautiously suggest several possibilities rather than a settled etymology. It can be an affectionate animal-to-animal nickname, or might recall a fictional donkey character, but neither choice is documented for this record. Its straightforward two-syllable pronunciation is more certain than any claim about a dog's supposed stubbornness.
- Meaning
- The domesticated long-eared equine animal, also called an ass Source
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About Donkey
Recorded as a dog’s name
Donkey appears in 5 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/dɑŋki/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the first syllable in the recorded US readings.
Other dictionary readings and notation
/dɑŋki/ · primary stress on syllable 1D AA1 NG K IY0
/dɔŋki/ · primary stress on syllable 1D AO1 NG K IY0
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
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Sources and research notes (2)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.