Donna
Donna is a girl's name of Italian origin.
Meaning
Lady or woman of the house.
Origin and history
Donna is derived from the Italian word for 'woman' or 'lady', ultimately originating from the Latin 'domina' (mistress of the house). It gained immense popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, ranking among the top female names for several decades. Today, it is perceived as a classic, traditional name that is less common for modern newborns.
Popularity in the United States
831,641 babies in the United States have been named Donna since 1880. It ranks #23 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1465.
States where it is most popular
- NY (8.3 %)
- PA (7.5 %)
- CA (6.3 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- OH (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 265 |
| 1890-1900 | 440 |
| 1900-1910 | 790 |
| 1910-1920 | 4,293 |
| 1920-1930 | 26,160 |
| 1930-1940 | 78,846 |
| 1940-1950 | 165,523 |
| 1950-1960 | 270,338 |
| 1960-1970 | 213,468 |
| 1970-1980 | 47,342 |
| 1980-1990 | 13,044 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,662 |
| 2000-2010 | 3,186 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,641 |
| 2020-2029 | 643 |
Famous people named Donna
- Donna Summer: Singer, Songwriter
- Donna Reed: Actress
- Donna Tartt: Author, Novelist
Nicknames
Donnie, Don
Fun facts
- Donna was one of the top 10 most popular names for newborn girls in the United States throughout the 1950s.
- The name stems from the Latin title 'domina', which is also the feminine counterpart to the honorific 'don'.